--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing, as most art, is considered to be…" description: "\"“Writing, as most art, is considered to be essentially superfluous. Who is an artist before a surgeon? Or a scientist? But the fact that tyrants and po..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/rainer-j-hanshe-101576_art_writing-as-most-art-is-considered-to-be_949079.jpg" --- # Writing, as most art, is considered to be essentially… ![“Writing, as most art, is considered to be essentially superfluous. Who is an artist before a surgeon? Or a scientist? But the fact that tyrants and political forces of every age have been threatened by art again and again, condemned it as degenerate or poisonous, and have silenced, brutalized, or…” quote by Rainer J. Hanshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/rainer-j-hanshe-101576_art_writing-as-most-art-is-considered-to-be_949079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/rainer-j-hanshe-101576_art_writing-as-most-art-is-considered-to-be_949079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/632/rainer-j-hanshe-101576_art_writing-as-most-art-is-considered-to-be_949079.jpg) > ““Writing, as most art, is considered to be essentially superfluous. Who is an artist before a surgeon? Or a scientist? But the fact that tyrants and political forces of every age have been threatened by art again and again, condemned it as degenerate or poisonous, and have silenced, brutalized, or murdered artists because of their work only serves to illustrate how significant art is, that it is our one greatest power. I would even go so far as to say that the tyrant ‘understands’ art more than the devotee, for the latter is generally too ‘pious’ and adoring, almost like a simple-minded believer overwrought by faith who simply loves and finds everything ‘great,’ whereas the former suffers the transformative threat of art more, is even endangered by it, hence their terror.”” Rainer J. Hanshe ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art is powerful, feared by tyrants who suppress it, yet it remains a vital force for truth and change. **In simple terms:** Tyrants fear art because it challenges power; art is a potent tool. Key Takeaway Support artistic expression to counter oppression. Themes art politics power freedom Mood inspirational defiant Type analysis argument When to use this quote - activism - education - cultural policy Key Concepts censorship tyranny creative resistance social change Questions to Reflect On - Why do oppressive regimes target artists? - How can art foster societal resilience? A Different Perspective Art can be co‑opted by regimes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One usually understands the art of the past by applying the conventions of the present thus misunderstanding the art of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-lewitt/one-usually-understands-the-art-of-the-past-by-applying-the/) [Sol LeWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-lewitt/) > [When a man understands the art of seeing, he can trace the spirit of an age and the features of a king even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-a-man-understands-the-art-of-seeing-he-can-trace-the-spirit-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [In general it can be said that a nation's art is greatest when it most reflects the character of its people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hopper/in-general-it-can-be-said-that-a-nation-s-art-is-greatest-when-it/) [Edward Hopper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hopper/) > [Art is for all — and the greatest art proves it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-soutar/art-is-for-all-and-the-greatest-art-proves-it/) [William Soutar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-soutar/) > [ I think it \[religion\] is an art, the greatest one; an extension of the communion all the other arts attempt. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dodie-smith/i-think-it-religion-is-an-art-the-greatest-one-an-extension-of-the/) [Dodie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dodie-smith/) > [The modern architect is, generally speaking, art's greatest enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-auguste-renoir/the-modern-architect-is-generally-speaking-art-s-greatest-enemy/) [Pierre-Auguste Renoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-auguste-renoir/) > [Art's greatest efforts are invariably a timid counterfeit of Nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/art-s-greatest-efforts-are-invariably-a-timid-counterfeit-of-nature/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Next to war, art is the greatest way to immortalize a reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-genn/next-to-war-art-is-the-greatest-way-to-immortalize-a-reputation/) Roman Genn > [Art at its greatest is fantastically deceitful and complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/art-at-its-greatest-is-fantastically-deceitful-and-complex/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“...you are strong only as long as you don't deprive people of everything . For a person you've taken everything from is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/you-are-strong-only-as-long-as-you-don-t-deprive-people-of-everything/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [“If I do not do this thing, then it may go on and on. Nothing of the greater good comes without struggle and sacrifice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-kent/if-i-do-not-do-this-thing-then-it-may-go-on-and-on-nothing-of-the/) [Kathleen Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-kent/) > [Single acts of tyranny may be ascribed to the accidental opinion of a day; but a series of oppressions, begun at a distinguished period…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/single-acts-of-tyranny-may-be-ascribed-to-the-accidental-opinion-of-a/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There's a dishonest tyranny in the liberal/progressive/socialist agenda that comes down and says 'we are here because we care about you; we want what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-west/there-s-a-dishonest-tyranny-in-the-liberal-progressive-socialist/) [Allen West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-west/) > [When we are capable of living in the moment free from the tyranny of "shoulds," free from the nagging sensation that this moment isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/when-we-are-capable-of-living-in-the-moment-free-from-the-tyranny-of/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) ## More by Rainer J. Hanshe > [“If we cannot abate the disaster, the one honor we have is the probity of our lucidness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-j-hanshe/if-we-cannot-abate-the-disaster-the-one-honor-we-have-is-the-probity/) Rainer J. Hanshe Explore all 2 Rainer J. Hanshe quotes ## 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": "“Writing, as most art, is considered to be essentially superfluous. 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