--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the end, we're just showmen. But, I…" description: "\"In the end, we're just showmen. But, I think that it's an important factor. Not to be anything else but clear about that - for me, creativity is an imp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_art_in-the-end-we-re-just-showmen-but-i-thin_1236537.jpg" --- # In the end, we're just showmen. But, I think that it's an… ![“In the end, we're just showmen. But, I think that it's an important factor. Not to be anything else but clear about that - for me, creativity is an important part of our evolution. Art has probably done more good for the world than war. But they're equally powerful. They both create revolutions.” quote by Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_art_in-the-end-we-re-just-showmen-but-i-thin_1236537.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_art_in-the-end-we-re-just-showmen-but-i-thin_1236537.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/nicolas-winding-refn-1480_art_in-the-end-we-re-just-showmen-but-i-thin_1236537.jpg) > “In the end, we're just showmen. But, I think that it's an important factor. Not to be anything else but clear about that - for me, creativity is an important part of our evolution. Art has probably done more good for the world than war. But they're equally powerful. They both create revolutions.” [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art and war both reshape societies; art fosters evolution through creativity, while war forces change through conflict. **In simple terms:** Both art and war drive societal change. Key Takeaway Recognize art’s transformative power. Themes creativity conflict evolution Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political movements - personal growth - social reform Key Concepts cultural impact human progress Questions to Reflect On - How does creativity influence societal evolution? - Can conflict ever be constructive? A Different Perspective War’s destruction can outweigh art’s benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The good thing is that there is a constant need for innovation, which is important in the evolution of music and sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreya-ghoshal/the-good-thing-is-that-there-is-a-constant-need-for-innovation-which/) [Shreya Ghoshal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreya-ghoshal/) > [“When things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art. I’m serious. Husband runs off with a politician — make good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/when-things-get-tough-this-is-what-you-should-do-make-good-art-i-m/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [The dignity of art probably appears most eminently with music since it does not have any material that needs to be discounted. Music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-dignity-of-art-probably-appears-most-eminently-with-music-since/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [That's one of the things I haven't had time for in my personal life, is art, and I probably should make more time for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-graziadei/that-s-one-of-the-things-i-haven-t-had-time-for-in-my-personal-life/) [Michael Graziadei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-graziadei/) > [I'm happy that the evolution of art in the past 25 years, and the place of art in global culture-and even finance-has gotten to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-shafrazi/i-m-happy-that-the-evolution-of-art-in-the-past-25-years-and-the/) [Tony Shafrazi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-shafrazi/) > [“Since the beginning of Humanities every era has had an elitist group that attempted to dictate what is and is not acceptable forms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-l-darity/since-the-beginning-of-humanities-every-era-has-had-an-elitist-group/) [Tracy L. Darity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-l-darity/) > [The evolution of art is not only driven by artists, but by a conversation between the artists and the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/the-evolution-of-art-is-not-only-driven-by-artists-but-by-a/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [Since I was a kid, I was inspired by fashion and its evolution as an art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-barbaro/since-i-was-a-kid-i-was-inspired-by-fashion-and-its-evolution-as-an/) [Monica Barbaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-barbaro/) > [Personal evolution has nothing to do with art, it's never. Art is a sine curve: dark and light change permanently, in cumulative radicalism. Art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meese/personal-evolution-has-nothing-to-do-with-art-it-s-never-art-is-a/) Jonathan Meese > [Even if you're not releasing songs, the act of creativity is important. That's the part I love, when you're in the moment. The rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ashcroft/even-if-you-re-not-releasing-songs-the-act-of-creativity-is-important/) [Richard Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ashcroft/) > [There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/there-is-no-doubt-that-creativity-is-the-most-important-human-2/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [“Creativity is as important now in education as literacy and we should treat it with the same status.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-ken-robinson/creativity-is-as-important-now-in-education-as-literacy-and-we-should/) [Sir Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-ken-robinson/) > [As we get older, we tend to become more risk averse because we tend to find reasons why things won't work. When you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heston-blumenthal/as-we-get-older-we-tend-to-become-more-risk-averse-because-we-tend-to/) [Heston Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heston-blumenthal/) > [There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/there-is-no-doubt-that-creativity-is-the-most-important-human/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/creativity-now-is-as-important-in-education-as-literacy-and-we-should/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Nicolas Winding Refn > [L.A. is, on one hand, very mysterious; it's very modern. It's a mysterious place - it's a haunting place - and everything in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/l-a-is-on-one-hand-very-mysterious-it-s-very-modern-it-s-a-mysterious/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The digital revolution is forever. They put importance on that option as well. With Amazon, you're getting the best of both worlds, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-digital-revolution-is-forever-they-put-importance-on-that-option/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I think the Internet is the greatest invention since women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-think-the-internet-is-the-greatest-invention-since-women/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I've always felt that I was from the future because the future is really not about what you make but what you stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-ve-always-felt-that-i-was-from-the-future-because-the-future-is/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [Art thrives on obstacles. The bigger the obstacle, the better the drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/art-thrives-on-obstacles-the-bigger-the-obstacle-the-better-the-drama/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [ Elle Fanning was fifteen when we started \[The Neon Demon\]. She turned seventeen during the shoot. Four weeks before Cannes, she turned eighteen. She… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/elle-fanning-was-fifteen-when-we-started-the-neon-demon-she-turned/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The casting of any film is around 60% of the film, but it's also about the right casting insight. It's a bit like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-casting-of-any-film-is-around-60-of-the-film-but-it-s-also-about/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [How can creativity be bad? You can have, "I liked it" or "I didn't like it," but, in the end, it's an individual experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/how-can-creativity-be-bad-you-can-have-i-liked-it-or-i-didn-t-like-it/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I always approach every film I make as if it was going to be the last. So if I'm going to go out, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-always-approach-every-film-i-make-as-if-it-was-going-to-be-the-last/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I can't make a film that I don't feel comfortable with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-can-t-make-a-film-that-i-don-t-feel-comfortable-with/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I'm a huge admirer of Keanu. I think he's absolutely extraordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-m-a-huge-admirer-of-keanu-i-think-he-s-absolutely-extraordinary/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [Sometimes I just play the theme from Arthur. It reminds me of my childhood in New York and I just love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/sometimes-i-just-play-the-theme-from-arthur-it-reminds-me-of-my/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The greatest artists were in a situation where they had to pay their bills. That's a very convenient way to get very creative very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-greatest-artists-were-in-a-situation-where-they-had-to-pay-their/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [I sometimes play different kinds of music to see where the performers end up. I play one genre. Then something else when I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/i-sometimes-play-different-kinds-of-music-to-see-where-the-performers/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) > [The greater the darkness, the better the drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-winding-refn/the-greater-the-darkness-the-better-the-drama/) [Nicolas Winding Refn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) [Explore all 237 Nicolas Winding Refn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-winding-refn/) ## 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 > [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": "In the end, we're just showmen. 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