--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In art, all who have done something other…" description: "\"In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are masters.\" — P..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/paul-gauguin-2667_art_in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other_9331.png" --- # In art, all who have done something other than their… ![“In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are masters.” quote by Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/paul-gauguin-2667_art_in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other_9331.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/paul-gauguin-2667_art_in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other_9331.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd9/paul-gauguin-2667_art_in-art-all-who-have-done-something-other_9331.png) > “In art, all who have done something other than their predecessors have merited the epithet of revolutionary; and it is they alone who are masters.” [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Innovation that breaks from tradition earns the label of revolutionary, and only those who truly transform their field can claim mastery. **In simple terms:** True mastery comes from radical change. Key Takeaway Revolutionary work defines mastery. Themes creativity originality innovation mastery tradition Mood reverent inspired Type aphorism observation When to use this quote - artistic practice - cultural movements - design innovation - technological disruption Key Concepts breakthrough authenticity Practical Applications - inspire new artistic directions - challenge established norms Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes a revolutionary from a mere imitator? - How does breaking tradition affect an artist's legacy? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Predecessors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-predecessors-351601/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Epithet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epithet/) [Epithet Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epithet-revolutionary-351600/) [Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/masters/) [Predecessors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predecessors/) [Predecessors Merited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predecessors-merited-351602/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Revolutionary Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary-masters-351599/) ## Related quotes > [Ah fair Zenocrate, divine Zenocrate, Fair is too foul an epithet for thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-marlowe/ah-fair-zenocrate-divine-zenocrate-fair-is-too-foul-an-epithet-for/) [Christopher Marlowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-marlowe/) > [I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists. I wish to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/i-earnestly-wish-to-point-out-in-what-true-dignity-and-human/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [“Some guy hit my fender the other day, and I said unto him, 'Be fruitful, and multiply'. 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When his own desires or standards are not fulfilled in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-typical-atheist-rebels-against-god-as-a-teenager-rebels-against/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Ardent, intelligent, sweet, sensitive, cultivated, erudite. These are the adjectives of praise in an androgynous world. 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What reproach in the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/what-praise-is-implied-in-the-simple-epithet-useful-what-reproach-in/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Fascist is not just an epithet. Fascist is a proper noun that means a specific thing. It's a real thing. It's not always referring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/fascist-is-not-just-an-epithet-fascist-is-a-proper-noun-that-means-a/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [In my opinion, using different kinds of epithets and adjectives in connection with the word democracy is a sign of mere hypocrisy, to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/in-my-opinion-using-different-kinds-of-epithets-and-adjectives-in/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [Men's thoughts and opinions are in a great degree vassals of him who invents a new phrase or re-applies an old epithet. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/men-s-thoughts-and-opinions-are-in-a-great-degree-vassals-of-him-who/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) > [I got nothing against no Viet Cong. No Vietnamese ever called me a << racial epithet >>.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/i-got-nothing-against-no-viet-cong-no-vietnamese-ever-called-me-a/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) ## More by Paul Gauguin > [It is well for young men to have a model, but let them draw the curtain over it while they are painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/it-is-well-for-young-men-to-have-a-model-but-let-them-draw-the/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Today one can dare anything, and, furthermore, nobody is surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/today-one-can-dare-anything-and-furthermore-nobody-is-surprised/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [It was so simple to paint things as I saw them; to put without special calculation a red close to a blue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/it-was-so-simple-to-paint-things-as-i-saw-them-to-put-without-special/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Out in the sun, some painters are lined up. The first is copying nature, the second is copying the first, the third is copying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/out-in-the-sun-some-painters-are-lined-up-the-first-is-copying-nature/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [However depressed I may be I am not in the habit of giving up a project without having tried everything, even the 'impossible', to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/however-depressed-i-may-be-i-am-not-in-the-habit-of-giving-up-a/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Lacking many of the essential implements, it irritated me to be reduced to impotence in the face of artistic projects to which I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/lacking-many-of-the-essential-implements-it-irritated-me-to-be/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Life has no meaning unless one lives it with a will, at least to the limit of one's will. 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Not all of us demand or even desire proficiency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/proficiency-in-art-is-a-contract-with-your-self-and-the-empowerment/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Sometimes people accuse me of being incomprehensible only because they look for an explicative side to my pictures which is not there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/sometimes-people-accuse-me-of-being-incomprehensible-only-because/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [“Do what you like, so long as it is intelligent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/do-what-you-like-so-long-as-it-is-intelligent/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [One's state of mind is three-quarters of what counts, so it has to be carefully nurtured if you want to do something great and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/one-s-state-of-mind-is-three-quarters-of-what-counts-so-it-has-to-be/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [The public wants to understand and learn in a single day, a single minute, what the artist has spent years learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/the-public-wants-to-understand-and-learn-in-a-single-day-a-single/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Stay firmly in your path and dare; be wild two hours a day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/stay-firmly-in-your-path-and-dare-be-wild-two-hours-a-day/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) > [Whatever may happen the sun will rise tomorrow as it rose to-day, beneficent and serene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gauguin/whatever-may-happen-the-sun-will-rise-tomorrow-as-it-rose-to-day/) [Paul Gauguin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) [Explore all 154 Paul Gauguin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gauguin/) ## 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. 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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. 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