--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to flirt with fundamentalism, and…" description: "\"I used to flirt with fundamentalism, and I had this idea that creation was something that happened. Now I see creation as something that is happening. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/michael-gungor-15350_artist_i-used-to-flirt-with-fundamentalism-and_135258.jpg" --- # I used to flirt with fundamentalism, and I had this idea… ![“I used to flirt with fundamentalism, and I had this idea that creation was something that happened. Now I see creation as something that is happening. Hundreds of millions of stars are still being born every day. Creation is an ongoing process. The Artist has not yet cleaned out the brushes. The…” quote by Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/michael-gungor-15350_artist_i-used-to-flirt-with-fundamentalism-and_135258.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/michael-gungor-15350_artist_i-used-to-flirt-with-fundamentalism-and_135258.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/538/michael-gungor-15350_artist_i-used-to-flirt-with-fundamentalism-and_135258.jpg) > “I used to flirt with fundamentalism, and I had this idea that creation was something that happened. Now I see creation as something that is happening. Hundreds of millions of stars are still being born every day. Creation is an ongoing process. The Artist has not yet cleaned out the brushes. The paint is still wet. Human beings are the small clumps of clay and breath, and we have been handed brushes of our own, like young artist apprentices. The brushes aren't ours, nor the paint or canvas, but here they are in our hands, on loan. What shall we make?” [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He shifts from seeing creation as a past event to an ongoing process, likening humanity to apprentices with borrowed artistic tools. **In simple terms:** Creation is ongoing; we are apprentices with borrowed tools. Key Takeaway Participate actively in the ongoing creation. Themes creativity spirituality process Mood inspired thoughtful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - innovation - personal development - spiritual practice Key Concepts artistry human agency continuity Questions to Reflect On - What can we create with borrowed tools? - How does seeing creation as ongoing affect purpose? A Different Perspective Tools are temporary, limiting control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Canvas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canvas/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Flirting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flirting/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) ## Related quotes > [God wants us to know that life is a series of beginnings, not endings. Just as graduations are not terminations, but commencements. Creation is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-siegel/god-wants-us-to-know-that-life-is-a-series-of-beginnings-not-endings/) [Bernie Siegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-siegel/) > [We express our art in everything we say, everything we feel, and everything we do. The creation is ongoing, it is endless, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/we-express-our-art-in-everything-we-say-everything-we-feel-and/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH Creation is always happening. Every time an individual has a thought, or a prolonged chronic way of thinking, they’re in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/michael-bernard-beckwith-creation-is-always-happening-every-time-an/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [Creation is always happening. Every time and individual has a thought, or a prolonged chronic way of thinking, they're in the creation process. Something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/creation-is-always-happening-every-time-and-individual-has-a-thought/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [A realistic expectation also demands our acceptance that one's allotted time on earth must be limited to an allowance consistent with the continuity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/a-realistic-expectation-also-demands-our-acceptance-that-one-s/) [Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/) > [I spoke on the phone with President Rouhani of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-spoke-on-the-phone-with-president-rouhani-of-the-islamic-republic/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As part of our ongoing series of reports on the environment, 'America Goes Green,' we take on the question that can make otherwise competent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/as-part-of-our-ongoing-series-of-reports-on-the-environment-america/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [Soooo," Arriane said. "Now you've met Randy." "I thought his name was Cam." "We're not talking about him," Arriane said quickly. "I mean the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/soooo-arriane-said-now-you-ve-met-randy-i-thought-his-name-was-cam-we/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [We can all agree that government cant solve the obesity crisis alone. Its an ongoing issue that will require a collaborative effort across private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/we-can-all-agree-that-government-cant-solve-the-obesity-crisis-alone/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [People don't have an ongoing relation unless it's a form of debt because everything is an exchange, so ongoing relationships are incomplete exchanges, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/people-don-t-have-an-ongoing-relation-unless-it-s-a-form-of-debt/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [I think there's an ongoing effort involved in trying to get a bigger perspective, trying to let go of things that limit your capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-ryan/i-think-there-s-an-ongoing-effort-involved-in-trying-to-get-a-bigger/) [Meg Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-ryan/) > [The current demoralization of the art world is attributable at least in part to museum interference, ideological and practical, with ongoing creation in art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-rosenberg/the-current-demoralization-of-the-art-world-is-attributable-at-least/) [Harold Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-rosenberg/) > [According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/according-to-a-recent-harvard-study-6-trillion-when-you-include-the/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [Enjoyment is not a goal, it is a feeling that accompanies important ongoing activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/enjoyment-is-not-a-goal-it-is-a-feeling-that-accompanies-important/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) ## More by Michael Gungor > [The more successful the work, the more people will step in to try to influence and manipulate the work for their own benefit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/the-more-successful-the-work-the-more-people-will-step-in-to-try-to/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [We are all creators. Whether or not we create is not up to us. We are human, and creating is what we do. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/we-are-all-creators-whether-or-not-we-create-is-not-up-to-us-we-are/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [I'm not one to call out an individual and say "I don't think that is honest." Who am I to know what is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/i-m-not-one-to-call-out-an-individual-and-say-i-don-t-think-that-is/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [“To truly see is to find hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/to-truly-see-is-to-find-hope/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [Any religious, philosophical or political idea that doesn't lead one towards love ought to be forsaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/any-religious-philosophical-or-political-idea-that-doesn-t-lead-one/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [I think I'm just trying to be myself and write songs that are honest. That's what I hear in artist's that I like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/i-think-i-m-just-trying-to-be-myself-and-write-songs-that-are-honest/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [“Entitlement is not a friend of art. Work is. Pain is. Pain is that blessed and despised universal experience that creates more true art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/entitlement-is-not-a-friend-of-art-work-is-pain-is-pain-is-that/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/burnout-is-what-happens-when-you-try-to-avoid-being-human-for-too-long/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [Creativity is simply the human brain forming new connections between ideas, and we all are engaged in this process every day. The common idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/creativity-is-simply-the-human-brain-forming-new-connections-between/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [To me, God is the basic Reality of the universe. God is what is. That's how Moses wrote that God introduced Himself, isn't it?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/to-me-god-is-the-basic-reality-of-the-universe-god-is-what-is-that-s/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [Money is not the root of all kinds of evil. The love of money is. It’s also the root of a lot of bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/money-is-not-the-root-of-all-kinds-of-evil-the-love-of-money-is-it-s/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [I've found that limitations can be an artist's best friend sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/i-ve-found-that-limitations-can-be-an-artist-s-best-friend-sometimes/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [The danger of art created to rise above the noise is that it may end up being noise itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/the-danger-of-art-created-to-rise-above-the-noise-is-that-it-may-end/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [To me genres were always an imaginary things, they're just marketing channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/to-me-genres-were-always-an-imaginary-things-they-re-just-marketing/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) > [If anyone should have a reason to not be afraid, to move beyond the expectations of culture, that is kind of the whole message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gungor/if-anyone-should-have-a-reason-to-not-be-afraid-to-move-beyond-the/) [Michael Gungor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) [Explore all 43 Michael Gungor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gungor/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to flirt with fundamentalism, and I had this idea that creation was something that happened. Now I see creation as something that is happening. Hundreds of millions of stars are still being born every day. Creation is an ongoing process. The Artist has not yet cleaned out the brushes. The paint is still wet. Human beings are the small clumps of clay and breath, and we have been handed brushes of our own, like young artist apprentices. The brushes aren't ours, nor the paint or canvas, but here they are in our hands, on loan. 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