--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He [Bernardo Bertolucci] has the kind of…" description: "\"He [Bernardo Bertolucci] has the kind of talent that breaks one's heart: where can it go, what will happen to it? In this country we encourage 'creativ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/pauline-kael-6910_art_he-bernardo-bertolucci-has-the-kind-of-t_441775.jpg" --- # He \[Bernardo Bertolucci\] has the kind of talent that… ![“He [Bernardo Bertolucci] has the kind of talent that breaks one's heart: where can it go, what will happen to it? In this country we encourage 'creativity' among the mediocre, but real bursting creativity appalls us. We put it down as undisciplined, as somehow 'too much.' Well, Before the…” quote by Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/pauline-kael-6910_art_he-bernardo-bertolucci-has-the-kind-of-t_441775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/pauline-kael-6910_art_he-bernardo-bertolucci-has-the-kind-of-t_441775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d42/pauline-kael-6910_art_he-bernardo-bertolucci-has-the-kind-of-t_441775.jpg) > “He \[Bernardo Bertolucci\] has the kind of talent that breaks one's heart: where can it go, what will happen to it? In this country we encourage 'creativity' among the mediocre, but real bursting creativity appalls us. We put it down as undisciplined, as somehow 'too much.' Well, Before the Revolution is too much and that is what is great about it. Art doesn't come in measured quantities: it's got to be too much or it's not enough.” [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) ## 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 argues that true artistic talent is overwhelming and cannot be confined to modest expectations; society often mislabels genuine creativity as excessive or undisciplined. **In simple terms:** Great art is overwhelming, not modest. Key Takeaway Embrace bold, unrestrained creativity. Themes art creativity society talent expectations Mood reflective critical inspirational Type analytical philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - film criticism - creative work - educational workshops - artistic collaborations Key Concepts artistic expression cultural critique authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do we recognize and support truly groundbreaking art? - What limits does labeling creativity as excessive impose? A Different Perspective Societal pressure can stifle innovation by labeling it as “too much.” ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [Working with Bernardo Bertolucci was one of the greatest highlights of my whole life. It was such an incredible opportunity for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/working-with-bernardo-bertolucci-was-one-of-the-greatest-highlights/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [Working with Bernardo Bertolucci, director of Stealing Beauty was my first experience of being able to communicate with someone whom I'd think of as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-tyler/working-with-bernardo-bertolucci-director-of-stealing-beauty-was-my/) [Liv Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-tyler/) > [I should mention Vittorio Storaro, who was Bernardo Bertolucci's cinematographer. You watch those films and they are exceptional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-should-mention-vittorio-storaro-who-was-bernardo-bertolucci-s/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [Bertolucci is extraordinary in his ability to perceive, he's a poet...he is very easy to work for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/bertolucci-is-extraordinary-in-his-ability-to-perceive-he-s-a-poet-he/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [Bertolucci's '1900' was a big deal. Another big one in our house was 'The Blue Lagoon.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rohrwacher/bertolucci-s-1900-was-a-big-deal-another-big-one-in-our-house-was-the/) [Alice Rohrwacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rohrwacher/) > [I've had the opportunity to work with so many great directors. Different styles, as well, like Gus Van Sant. He just does the casting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keanu-reeves/i-ve-had-the-opportunity-to-work-with-so-many-great-directors/) [Keanu Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keanu-reeves/) > [I see wonderful films by Bertolucci, Visconti, and Fellini.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincente-minnelli/i-see-wonderful-films-by-bertolucci-visconti-and-fellini/) [Vincente Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincente-minnelli/) > [Boys get unfairly labeled as morally defective, hyperactive, undisciplined, or 'problem children,' when quite often the problem is not with the boys but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gurian/boys-get-unfairly-labeled-as-morally-defective-hyperactive/) [Michael Gurian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gurian/) > [The heart is not the source of negative feelings. It is the undisciplined mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-randymar/the-heart-is-not-the-source-of-negative-feelings-it-is-the/) [Joel Randymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-randymar/) > [I just took part in this camp as there was nothing better for me to do. They also didn't draft me because they thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-oneill/i-just-took-part-in-this-camp-as-there-was-nothing-better-for-me-to/) [Ed ONeill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-oneill/) > [It's possible that the clowning and the buffoonery and the entertainment are a bigger part of what's happening than we've allowed. And that Trump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-chait/it-s-possible-that-the-clowning-and-the-buffoonery-and-the/) [Jonathan Chait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-chait/) > [I'm a fairly undisciplined writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-m-a-fairly-undisciplined-writer/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I am burdened with what the Buddhists call the monkey mind. The thoughts that swing from limb to limb, stopping only to scratch themselves,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-am-burdened-with-what-the-buddhists-call-the-monkey-mind-the/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The ugly truth is it's the spineless parents who parade their undisciplined children around like royalty that make people dislike kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/the-ugly-truth-is-it-s-the-spineless-parents-who-parade-their/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) ## More by Pauline Kael > [The worst thing about movie-making is that it's like life: nobody can go back to correct the mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/the-worst-thing-about-movie-making-is-that-it-s-like-life-nobody-can/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Movies have been doing so much of the same thing - in slightly different ways - for so long that few of the possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/movies-have-been-doing-so-much-of-the-same-thing-in-slightly/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [The critic is the only independent source of information. The rest is advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/the-critic-is-the-only-independent-source-of-information-the-rest-is/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [A good movie can take you out of your dull funk and the hopelessness that so often goes with slipping into a theatre; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/a-good-movie-can-take-you-out-of-your-dull-funk-and-the-hopelessness/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [The movies have been so rank the last couple of years that when I see people lining up to buy tickets I sometimes think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/the-movies-have-been-so-rank-the-last-couple-of-years-that-when-i-see/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Movies are so rarely great art that if we cannot appreciate great trash we have very little reason to be interested in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/movies-are-so-rarely-great-art-that-if-we-cannot-appreciate-great/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [If you use Hollywood as the test tissue for mankind, what could the prognosis be?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/if-you-use-hollywood-as-the-test-tissue-for-mankind-what-could-the/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is a chance in a million that you can do something, anything, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/where-there-is-a-will-there-is-a-way-if-there-is-a-chance-in-a/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [What this generation was bred to at television's knees was not wisdom, but cynicism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/what-this-generation-was-bred-to-at-television-s-knees-was-not-wisdom/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Watching old movies is like spending an evening with those people next door. They bore us, and we wouldn't go out of our way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/watching-old-movies-is-like-spending-an-evening-with-those-people/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [I felt as if I had attended the funeral of someone I didn't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/i-felt-as-if-i-had-attended-the-funeral-of-someone-i-didn-t-know/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Protagonists are always loners, almost by definition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/protagonists-are-always-loners-almost-by-definition/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [if you think it so easy to be a critic, so difficult to be a poet or a painter or film experimenter, may I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/if-you-think-it-so-easy-to-be-a-critic-so-difficult-to-be-a-poet-or-a/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Writers who go to Hollywood still follow the classic pattern: either you get disgusted by 'them' and you leave or you want the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/writers-who-go-to-hollywood-still-follow-the-classic-pattern-either/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) > [Robert Redford ... has turned almost alarmingly blond-he's gone past platinum, he must be into plutonium; his hair is coordinated with his teeth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-kael/robert-redford-has-turned-almost-alarmingly-blond-he-s-gone-past/) [Pauline Kael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) [Explore all 96 Pauline Kael quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-kael/) ## 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 > [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": "He [Bernardo Bertolucci] has the kind of talent that breaks one's heart: where can it go, what will happen to it? 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