--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art is the ability to separate the…" description: "\"Art is the ability to separate the significant from the insignificant.\" — Poul Henningsen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg" --- # Art is the ability to separate the significant from the… ![“Art is the ability to separate the significant from the insignificant.” quote by Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg) > “Art is the ability to separate the significant from the insignificant.” [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art distinguishes what truly matters from trivial details, guiding perception toward significance. **In simple terms:** Art separates important from trivial. Key Takeaway Focus on what matters. Themes artistic perception critical thinking clarity Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - design critique - news consumption - personal decision making - educational curriculum Key Concepts aesthetics cognitive bias design Questions to Reflect On - What do you consider insignificant? - How does this filter affect your choices? A Different Perspective Too much filtering can ignore useful nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ## Related quotes > [“Art has their ability to create their own meaning and artist is someone who interpret it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asaid/art-has-their-ability-to-create-their-own-meaning-and-artist-is/) ASAID > [Art has this ability to allow you to connect back through history in the same way that biology does. I'm always looking for source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-koons/art-has-this-ability-to-allow-you-to-connect-back-through-history-in/) [Jeff Koons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-koons/) > [I think art is the ability to change people with your work, to see things as they are and then create stories, images, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-think-art-is-the-ability-to-change-people-with-your-work-to-see/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“At issue for Peladan is the potency of the visual image: art's ability to construct images for viewing that can mobilize, concentrate and redirect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-birkett/at-issue-for-peladan-is-the-potency-of-the-visual-image-art-s-ability/) [Jennifer Birkett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-birkett/) > [The value of art is its ability to look into the "world of oblivion" and to find things that are generally unrecognized, forgotten, invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasumasa-morimura/the-value-of-art-is-its-ability-to-look-into-the-world-of-oblivion/) [Yasumasa Morimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasumasa-morimura/) > ["Art is the ability to turn one's gaze to the world of oblivion." This is the way in which I understand art at fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasumasa-morimura/art-is-the-ability-to-turn-one-s-gaze-to-the-world-of-oblivion-this/) [Yasumasa Morimura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasumasa-morimura/) > [Art has the ability to redeem life by finding beauty even in the worst aspect of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/art-has-the-ability-to-redeem-life-by-finding-beauty-even-in-the/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [I think that art has the ability to capture people's imaginations and make them think that more is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/i-think-that-art-has-the-ability-to-capture-people-s-imaginations-and/) [Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/) > [Sometimes it's good to get mad, sometimes it clarifies where we stand. 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We never have to miss anything, significant or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/we-have-cellphones-and-smartphones-and-idevices-and-laptops-and-the/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [The art of writing history is the art of emphasizing the significant facts at the expense of the insignificant. And it is the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wilson-lynd/the-art-of-writing-history-is-the-art-of-emphasizing-the-significant/) [Robert Wilson Lynd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wilson-lynd/) > [Lord, when I feel that what I'm doing is insignificant and unimportant, help me to remember that everything I do is significant and important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/lord-when-i-feel-that-what-i-m-doing-is-insignificant-and-unimportant/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“God doesn’t put that much prep into something that is insignificant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-doesn-t-put-that-much-prep-into-something-that-is-insignificant/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Poul Henningsen > [The technician should never forget that he is an artist, the artist never that he is a technician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/the-technician-should-never-forget-that-he-is-an-artist-the-artist/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [Everything new stalls because there is precedence for the old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/everything-new-stalls-because-there-is-precedence-for-the-old/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [The only thing which separates man from child is all the values he has lost over the years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/the-only-thing-which-separates-man-from-child-is-all-the-values-he/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [Being conservative has never been regarded as old-fashioned. But if you fight for a sensible step in the right direction which others has deserted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/being-conservative-has-never-been-regarded-as-old-fashioned-but-if/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [The rules are rather simple to understand: Under democracy you can defend any view, but only defend it. You can not try to realise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/the-rules-are-rather-simple-to-understand-under-democracy-you-can/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [Good taste is always bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/good-taste-is-always-bad/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [Future comes by itself, progress does not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/future-comes-by-itself-progress-does-not/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) > [Democracy can only be measured on the existence of an opposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/democracy-can-only-be-measured-on-the-existence-of-an-opposition/) [Poul Henningsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) [Explore all 9 Poul Henningsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Art is the ability to separate the significant from the insignificant.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Poul Henningsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-significant-from-the-insignificant/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-significant-from-the-insignificant/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/poul-henningsen-45494_ability_art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-signi_1273940.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art is the ability to separate the significant from the insignificant.” — Poul Henningsen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Poul Henningsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poul-henningsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Art is the ability to separate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-significant-from-the-insignificant/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poul-henningsen/art-is-the-ability-to-separate-the-significant-from-the-insignificant/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```