--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anything an artist does is to show…" description: "\"Anything an artist does is to show ourselves as we really are, which is a complex thing. I don't think that one work of Philosophy or Art, or Letters, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/peter-o-toole-3173_acting_anything-an-artist-does-is-to-show-ourse_2758189.jpg" --- # Anything an artist does is to show ourselves as we really… ![“Anything an artist does is to show ourselves as we really are, which is a complex thing. I don't think that one work of Philosophy or Art, or Letters, or Acting, or Middle Playing, or Tightrope Walking, or Flea Circuses has made mankind better, if by better you mean kinder, wiser, more tolerant of…” quote by Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/peter-o-toole-3173_acting_anything-an-artist-does-is-to-show-ourse_2758189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/peter-o-toole-3173_acting_anything-an-artist-does-is-to-show-ourse_2758189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/peter-o-toole-3173_acting_anything-an-artist-does-is-to-show-ourse_2758189.jpg) > “Anything an artist does is to show ourselves as we really are, which is a complex thing. I don't think that one work of Philosophy or Art, or Letters, or Acting, or Middle Playing, or Tightrope Walking, or Flea Circuses has made mankind better, if by better you mean kinder, wiser, more tolerant of each other. One thing self knowledge. Knoticayton: know thyself.” [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that art and philosophy haven’t necessarily made humanity kinder, wiser, or more tolerant; self‑knowledge is key. **In simple terms:** Art doesn’t guarantee moral progress; self‑knowledge does. Key Takeaway Seek self‑knowledge above external achievements. Themes art philosophy humanity Mood reflective critical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - education - creative work - personal reflection Key Concepts self‑awareness ethical development cultural impact Questions to Reflect On - What does self‑knowledge mean to you? - How can art foster genuine kindness? A Different Perspective Art can inspire but not ensure moral change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-does/) [Know thyself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-thyself/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Mankind Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind-better-1904658/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Philosophy Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-art-514262/) [Self knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-knowledge/) [Thing Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-self-723865/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thyself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thyself/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) [Wiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wiser/) ## Related quotes > [Know thyself. A maxim as pernicious as it is ugly. Whoever studies himself arrest his own development. A caterpillar who seeks to know himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/know-thyself-a-maxim-as-pernicious-as-it-is-ugly-whoever-studies/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [Love yourself. KNOW thyself. And be mindful of your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/love-yourself-know-thyself-and-be-mindful-of-your-thoughts/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [Intercourse is after all man's best teacher. "Know thyself" is an excellent maxim; but even self-knowledge cannot be perfected in closets and cloisters--nor amid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-matthews/intercourse-is-after-all-man-s-best-teacher-know-thyself-is-an/) [William Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-matthews/) > [There are two sentences inscribed upon the Ancient oracle... "Know thyself" and "Nothing too much"; and upon these all other precepts depend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/there-are-two-sentences-inscribed-upon-the-ancient-oracle-know/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [One has to know the size of one's stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/one-has-to-know-the-size-of-one-s-stomach/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [All too willingly man sees himself as the centre of the universe, as something not belonging to the rest of nature but standing apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/all-too-willingly-man-sees-himself-as-the-centre-of-the-universe-as/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“If you don't know what you want, others will want you for what they know! You must know yourself!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-don-t-know-what-you-want-others-will-want-you-for-what-they/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Know thyself because what else is there to know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-connor/know-thyself-because-what-else-is-there-to-know/) [Sarah Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-connor/) > [The height of all philosophy is to know thyself; and the end of this knowledge is to know God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-height-of-all-philosophy-is-to-know-thyself-and-the-end-of-this/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [My friend...care for your psyche...know thyself, for once we know ourselves, we may learn how to care for ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/my-friend-care-for-your-psyche-know-thyself-for-once-we-know/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Knowledge can be acquired by a suitable and complete study, no matter what the starting point is. Only one must know how to 'learn.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowledge-can-be-acquired-by-a-suitable-and-complete-study-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Make it thy business to know thyself, which is the most difficult lesson in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/make-it-thy-business-to-know-thyself-which-is-the-most-difficult/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Know thyself and thou wilt know the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/know-thyself-and-thou-wilt-know-the-universe/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [The aim of human life is to know thyself. Think for yourself. Question authority. Think with your friends. Create, create new realities. Philosophy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/the-aim-of-human-life-is-to-know-thyself-think-for-yourself-question/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [Active, successful natures act, not according to the maxim, "know thyself," but as if prompted by the commandment: will a self, and so become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/active-successful-natures-act-not-according-to-the-maxim-know-thyself/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Peter O'Toole > [I'm a professional and I'll do anything - a poetry reading, television, cinema, anything that allows me to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-a-professional-and-i-ll-do-anything-a-poetry-reading-television/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [Actors have to stay optimistic. The moment we start thinking otherwise, we're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/actors-have-to-stay-optimistic-the-moment-we-start-thinking-otherwise/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I'm not working-class: I come from the criminal classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-not-working-class-i-come-from-the-criminal-classes/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [It grieves us to produce work that is not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/it-grieves-us-to-produce-work-that-is-not-perfect/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I love working with the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-love-working-with-the-young/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I have no intention of uttering my last words on the stage. Room service and a couple of depraved young women will do me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-have-no-intention-of-uttering-my-last-words-on-the-stage-room/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I saw a man killed in front of my eyes just before my eighth birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-saw-a-man-killed-in-front-of-my-eyes-just-before-my-eighth-birthday/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [Everyone praises Sachin Tendulkar. He may be a genius in his own right but in my book, Rahul Dravid is the artist. Dravid's defence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/everyone-praises-sachin-tendulkar-he-may-be-a-genius-in-his-own-right/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I'm not a French singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-not-a-french-singer/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [When I work with young people, I grab energy from them by the handsful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/when-i-work-with-young-people-i-grab-energy-from-them-by-the-handsful/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [My own favorite is something called Rogue Male.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/my-own-favorite-is-something-called-rogue-male/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I'm a working stiff, baby, just like everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-m-a-working-stiff-baby-just-like-everybody-else/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [It was a mistake and I made the mistake because I was conservative and played safe. And that way lies failure." "Must do it...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/it-was-a-mistake-and-i-made-the-mistake-because-i-was-conservative/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I woke up one morning to find I was famous. I bought a white Rolls-Royce and drove down Sunset Boulevard, wearing dark specs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-woke-up-one-morning-to-find-i-was-famous-i-bought-a-white-rolls/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) > [I found him perhaps the least terrifying man I've ever met in the theater—because at first glance I could see through him and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-o-toole/i-found-him-perhaps-the-least-terrifying-man-i-ve-ever-met-in-the/) [Peter O'Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) [Explore all 138 Peter O'Toole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-o-toole/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) [Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anything an artist does is to show ourselves as we really are, which is a complex thing. I don't think that one work of Philosophy or Art, or Letters, or Acting, or Middle Playing, or Tightrope Walking, or Flea Circuses has made mankind better, if by better you mean kinder, wiser, more tolerant of each other. 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