--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, I sometimes think, how is…" description: "\"You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/owen-wilson-10973_art_you-know-i-sometimes-think-how-is-anyone_1416335.png" --- # You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come… ![“You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great city. You can't. Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form and when you think that in the cold…” quote by Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/owen-wilson-10973_art_you-know-i-sometimes-think-how-is-anyone_1416335.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/owen-wilson-10973_art_you-know-i-sometimes-think-how-is-anyone_1416335.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d08/owen-wilson-10973_art_you-know-i-sometimes-think-how-is-anyone_1416335.png) > “You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great city. You can't. Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form and when you think that in the cold, violent, meaningless universe that Paris exists, these lights. I mean come on, there's nothing happening on Jupiter or Neptune, but from way out in space you can see these lights, the cafés, people drinking and singing. For all we know, Paris is the hottest spot in the universe.” [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote marvels at a city's unique, vibrant cultural energy that surpasses artistic creations, suggesting urban life itself is a masterpiece. **In simple terms:** Cities can be more inspiring than any single artwork. Key Takeaway Seek inspiration in everyday urban surroundings. Themes culture inspiration urban beauty artistic comparison Mood reflective admiring contemplative Type observational philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - travel - city exploration - creative brainstorming - urban photography - writing about places Key Concepts aesthetic experience collective creativity existential wonder Questions to Reflect On - How does urban environment shape your creativity? - What aspects of city life feel like art to you? A Different Perspective The view may romanticize cities, overlooking their challenges and imperfections. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-form/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Drinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drinking/) [Great cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-cities/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Midnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/midnight/) [Neptune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neptune/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sculpture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sculpture/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Streets of paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets-of-paris/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [I used to run a night club in Fort Myers, Florida called Norma Jean's Dance Club. That was the hottest spot from Sarasota to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diamond-dallas-page/i-used-to-run-a-night-club-in-fort-myers-florida-called-norma-jean-s/) [Diamond Dallas Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diamond-dallas-page/) > [ \[On Paris:\] It exists, constant, eternal, surrounding us who live in it, and it is in us. We love it or hate it, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-berberova/on-paris-it-exists-constant-eternal-surrounding-us-who-live-in-it-and/) [Nina Berberova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-berberova/) > [That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/that-paris-exists-and-anyone-could-choose-to-live-anywhere-else-in/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay, I heard the laughter of her heart in every street café.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-last-time-i-saw-paris-her-heart-was-warm-and-gay-i-heard-the/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [The rocky time came right after I left school. 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She ends up wandering the streets of Paris all alone - something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-macdonald/i-went-to-see-francis-ha-which-i-could-certainly-relate-to-she-ends/) [Kevin Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-macdonald/) > [The birds sang, the proles sang. the Party did not sing. All round the world, in London and New York, in Africa and Brazil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-birds-sang-the-proles-sang-the-party-did-not-sing-all-round-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“What happened to me? I asked myself. Morris's high, smoky voice took me back to my university years, when I thought rich people were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/what-happened-to-me-i-asked-myself-morris-s-high-smoky-voice-took-me/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I was eighteen, this was back in '46, so we also had these very frightening images of soldiers in the streets of Paris. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-was-eighteen-this-was-back-in-46-so-we-also-had-these-very/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [“By Jove, it's great! Walk along the streets on some spring morning. The little women, daintily tripping along, seem to blossom out like flowers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-maupassant/by-jove-it-s-great-walk-along-the-streets-on-some-spring-morning-the/) [Guy de Maupassant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-maupassant/) > [When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-sinclair/when-the-franc-was-in-danger-of-collapsing-in-1956-it-was-the/) [Gordon Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-sinclair/) > [The brown toxic cloud strangling Los Angeles never lifts and grows thicker with every immigrant added. One can't help appreciate the streets of Paris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frosty-wooldridge/the-brown-toxic-cloud-strangling-los-angeles-never-lifts-and-grows/) [Frosty Wooldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frosty-wooldridge/) > [“I lift my voice against these audacious practices and these infamous fashions, and I pray that you who have daughters in Zion will save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-f-smith/i-lift-my-voice-against-these-audacious-practices-and-these-infamous/) [Joseph F. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-f-smith/) ## More by Owen Wilson > [That's the thing about friendship, it's a lot rarer than love, because there is nothing in it for any body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/that-s-the-thing-about-friendship-it-s-a-lot-rarer-than-love-because/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I always think about Katharine Graham - she was the publisher of The Washington Post. In her autobiography she talks about the way her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-always-think-about-katharine-graham-she-was-the-publisher-of-the/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [We didn't know what the reception was going to be when we walked out on the runway, but it felt like we were in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/we-didn-t-know-what-the-reception-was-going-to-be-when-we-walked-out/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [You know how they say we only use 10 percent of our brains? I think we only use 10 percent of our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/you-know-how-they-say-we-only-use-10-percent-of-our-brains-i-think-we/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Movies I liked growing up were like Francis Ford Coppolla movies and Scorsese movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/movies-i-liked-growing-up-were-like-francis-ford-coppolla-movies-and/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I have never taken myself that seriously as an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-have-never-taken-myself-that-seriously-as-an-actor/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [And James L. Brooks then sort of became our mentor, brought us out to Los Angeles and worked on the script for a year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/and-james-l-brooks-then-sort-of-became-our-mentor-brought-us-out-to/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [There's what is on screen and then for us, it's if you get along with the people and enjoy showing up at work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/there-s-what-is-on-screen-and-then-for-us-it-s-if-you-get-along-with/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Film is definitely a director's medium. They're responsible for the look and everything, and you're a part of that process as an actor, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/film-is-definitely-a-director-s-medium-they-re-responsible-for-the/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [You can't get too attached to any one shampoo. And conditioner, also.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/you-can-t-get-too-attached-to-any-one-shampoo-and-conditioner-also/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Being in a bathtub with Jackie Chan, I don't know, it has a way of bonding you I'll tell you that. I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/being-in-a-bathtub-with-jackie-chan-i-don-t-know-it-has-a-way-of/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [Hansel is certainly about comfort, while still sort of having a peacock principle of wanting to attract attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/hansel-is-certainly-about-comfort-while-still-sort-of-having-a/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [I love Francis Bacon. I just saw a great Jackson Pollock exhibit at the Dallas Museum when I was home for Thanksgiving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/i-love-francis-bacon-i-just-saw-a-great-jackson-pollock-exhibit-at/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [The Australian accent just a very lovely accent and it doesn't have the pretention maybe of an English accent, but yet seems a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/the-australian-accent-just-a-very-lovely-accent-and-it-doesn-t-have/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) > [My roommate in college in Austin, Texas, was Wes Anderson. Wes always wanted to be a director. I was an English major in college,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-wilson/my-roommate-in-college-in-austin-texas-was-wes-anderson-wes-always/) [Owen Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) [Explore all 62 Owen Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-wilson/) ## 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": "You know, I sometimes think, how is anyone ever gonna come up with a book, or a painting, or a symphony, or a sculpture that can compete with a great city. You can't. Because you look around and every street, every boulevard, is its own special art form and when you think that in the cold, violent, meaningless universe that Paris exists, these lights. I mean come on, there's nothing happening on Jupiter or Neptune, but from way out in space you can see these lights, the cafés, people drinking and singing. 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