--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A work of art is like living people." description: "\"“A work of art is like living people.”\" — Muriel Spark" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg" --- # A work of art is like living people. ![“A work of art is like living people.” quote by Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg) > ““A work of art is like living people.”” [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art mirrors the vitality and complexity of human life. **In simple terms:** Art reflects living people. Key Takeaway Value art as a window into humanity. Themes creativity humanity reflection Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - museum visits - creative writing - education - personal introspection Key Concepts aesthetics existentialism Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does art capture real life? - When does art fail to represent humanity? A Different Perspective Art can oversimplify lived experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-like-417215/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Like Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-living-254714/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Living People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-people-364246/) [Work Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-art-251453/) ## Related quotes > [Treat a work of art like a prince. Let it speak to you first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/treat-a-work-of-art-like-a-prince-let-it-speak-to-you-first/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [The creation of a work of art, like an act of love, is our one small 'yes' at the center of a vast 'no.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-creation-of-a-work-of-art-like-an-act-of-love-is-our-one-small/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [A work of art should be like a well-planned crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/a-work-of-art-should-be-like-a-well-planned-crime/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [A work of art is like a person: it has more than one soul in its breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-brendel/a-work-of-art-is-like-a-person-it-has-more-than-one-soul-in-its-breast/) [Alfred Brendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-brendel/) > [We can't stop living because other people are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/we-can-t-stop-living-because-other-people-are-dead/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [And people are moody, dude. You gotta get used to living with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/and-people-are-moody-dude-you-gotta-get-used-to-living-with-people/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I don't think people should do biopics of living people. I'm totally opposed to that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-think-people-should-do-biopics-of-living-people-i-m-totally/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [That's what the future is for: to build the present, with real plans, made by living people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-barbery/that-s-what-the-future-is-for-to-build-the-present-with-real-plans/) [Muriel Barbery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-barbery/) > [Civilization is the art of living together with people not entirely like oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-cam/civilization-is-the-art-of-living-together-with-people-not-entirely/) [Helen Cam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-cam/) > [“God, living people are irritating.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendare-blake/god-living-people-are-irritating/) [Kendare Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendare-blake/) > [In my experience, ghosts are made up only of the living, people you know are out there but are forever out of range](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-johnson/in-my-experience-ghosts-are-made-up-only-of-the-living-people-you/) [Adam Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-johnson/) > [The difficult thing isn't living with other people, it's understanding them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/the-difficult-thing-isn-t-living-with-other-people-it-s-understanding/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [Where there's life, there's hope. Living people can change things, dead people cannot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/where-there-s-life-there-s-hope-living-people-can-change-things-dead/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [Each book is a mind alive, a life revealed, a world awaiting exploration, but living people are all those things, as well—and more, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/each-book-is-a-mind-alive-a-life-revealed-a-world-awaiting/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Memory is life. It is always carried by groups of living people, and therefore it is in permanent evolution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-j-hobsbawm/memory-is-life-it-is-always-carried-by-groups-of-living-people-and/) [Eric J. Hobsbawm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-j-hobsbawm/) ## More by Muriel Spark > [Contradictions in human character are one of its most consistent notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/contradictions-in-human-character-are-one-of-its-most-consistent-notes/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“They are demanding equal rights with us,’ says Mrs. Fiedke. ‘That’s why I never vote with the Liberals. Perfume, jewellery, hair down to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/they-are-demanding-equal-rights-with-us-says-mrs-fiedke-that-s-why-i/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [Allow me, in conclusion, to congratulate you warmly upon your sexual intercourse, as well as your singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/allow-me-in-conclusion-to-congratulate-you-warmly-upon-your-sexual/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [I see no reason to keep silent about my enjoyment of the sound of my own voice as I work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/i-see-no-reason-to-keep-silent-about-my-enjoyment-of-the-sound-of-my/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [It is well, when in difficulties, to say never a word, neither black nor white. Speech is silver but silence is golden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/it-is-well-when-in-difficulties-to-say-never-a-word-neither-black-nor/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [It's a whydunnit in q-sharp major and it has a message: never talk to the sort of girls that you wouldn't leave lying about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/it-s-a-whydunnit-in-q-sharp-major-and-it-has-a-message-never-talk-to/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [One's prime is elusive. You little girls, when you grow up, must be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/one-s-prime-is-elusive-you-little-girls-when-you-grow-up-must-be-on/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“It's only possible to betray where loyalty is due”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/it-s-only-possible-to-betray-where-loyalty-is-due/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“The sparkle and morning-freshness of the shop, and the butter-conjuring girl, formed a mind-picture which accompanied the whole of my youth.(about the Buttercup Dairy)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/the-sparkle-and-morning-freshness-of-the-shop-and-the-butter/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [There was altogether too much candor in married life; it was an indelicate modern idea, and frequently led to upsets in a household, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/there-was-altogether-too-much-candor-in-married-life-it-was-an/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [Jealousy ... is an affliction of the spirit which, unlike some sins of the flesh, gives no one any pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/jealousy-is-an-affliction-of-the-spirit-which-unlike-some-sins-of-the/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [it never really occurred to her that literary men, if they like women at all, do not want literary women but girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/it-never-really-occurred-to-her-that-literary-men-if-they-like-women/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“The word 'education' comes from the root e from ex, out, and duco, I lead. It means a leading out. To me education is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/the-word-education-comes-from-the-root-e-from-ex-out-and-duco-i-lead/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [“- 'Poise is perfect balance, an equanimity of body and mind, complete composure whatever the social scene. Elegant dress, immaculate grooming, and perfect deportment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/poise-is-perfect-balance-an-equanimity-of-body-and-mind-complete/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [These years are still the years of my prime. It is important to recognise the years of one's prime, always remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/these-years-are-still-the-years-of-my-prime-it-is-important-to/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) [Explore all 114 Muriel Spark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A work of art is like living people.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Muriel Spark" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/muriel-spark-4228_art_a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people-1934_1934016.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A work of art is like living people.” — Muriel Spark", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Muriel Spark", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A work of art is like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/a-work-of-art-is-like-living-people/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```