--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every genuine work of art has as much…" description: "\"Every genuine work of art has as much reason for being as the earth and the sun.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png" --- # Every genuine work of art has as much reason for being as… ![“Every genuine work of art has as much reason for being as the earth and the sun.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png) > “Every genuine work of art has as much reason for being as the earth and the sun.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art, like natural forces, exists with purpose and essential truth. **In simple terms:** Art has a natural, purposeful reason. Key Takeaway Create art that reflects essential truths. Themes creativity purpose nature Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - painting - music composition - environmental design - education Key Concepts aesthetics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What purpose does your art serve? - How does nature inspire your creativity? A Different Perspective Art may be commercialized, losing its natural purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) ## Related quotes > [...a genuine work of art, can never be false, nor can it be discredited through the lapse of time, for it does not present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-genuine-work-of-art-can-never-be-false-nor-can-it-be-discredited/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Any genuine work of art generates new work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/any-genuine-work-of-art-generates-new-work/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [A work of art is an abstract or epitome of the world. It is the result or expression of nature, in miniature. For, although…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-work-of-art-is-an-abstract-or-epitome-of-the-world-it-is-the-result/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [All work, the genuine work which we must achieve, is that which is most difficult and painful: the work on ourselves. If we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-gebser/all-work-the-genuine-work-which-we-must-achieve-is-that-which-is-most/) [Jean Gebser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-gebser/) > [“Do not focus your attention on counterfeiters. Genuine work stemming from the heart will always be recognised.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yefon-isabelle/do-not-focus-your-attention-on-counterfeiters-genuine-work-stemming/) [Yefon Isabelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yefon-isabelle/) > [“When the water covers the earth the sun will vanish the darkess and the cold will come.When the last dragon and the last Elf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvana-de-mari/when-the-water-covers-the-earth-the-sun-will-vanish-the-darkess-and/) [Silvana de Mari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvana-de-mari/) > [“For anyone who says we’re culturally and technologically advanced beings not held in thrall by our environment consider how we start each year afresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/for-anyone-who-says-we-re-culturally-and-technologically-advanced/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [“The Earth rotates eastward at about 800 miles per hour at our latitude while simultaneously orbiting the sun at 19 miles a second. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-merritt/the-earth-rotates-eastward-at-about-800-miles-per-hour-at-our/) [Jerry Merritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-merritt/) > [This is what you should do; love the Earth and sun and the animals...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/this-is-what-you-should-do-love-the-earth-and-sun-and-the-animals/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“The Earth´s sun can look very much alone, yet it has relatives all across this galaxy, stars that were born in the exact same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/the-earth-s-sun-can-look-very-much-alone-yet-it-has-relatives-all/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lloyd-wright/buildings-too-are-children-of-earth-and-sun/) [Frank Lloyd Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lloyd-wright/) > [“No cataclysmic change since 1984--Energy-exchange system now about 4.5 billion years old--Plant life itself is about four billion years old--24 hour days from one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-voorhees/no-cataclysmic-change-since-1984-energy-exchange-system-now-about-4-5/) [Lou Voorhees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-voorhees/) > [“Art is a concretization of metaphysics. Art brings man’s concepts to the perceptual level of his consciousness and allows him to grasp them directly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand-the-romatic-manifesto/art-is-a-concretization-of-metaphysics-art-brings-man-s-concepts-to/) Ayn Rand, The Romatic Manifesto > [Being without music is like the earth without the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-without-music-is-like-the-earth-without-the-sun/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We live on planet earth, we have the sun, and it's the most beautiful thing, the way the sun dances and the way shadows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesh/we-live-on-planet-earth-we-have-the-sun-and-it-s-the-most-beautiful/) [Kesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesh/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## 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": "Every genuine work of art has as much reason for being as the earth and the sun.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-reason-for-being-as-the-earth/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-reason-for-being-as-the-earth/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e9/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_art_every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-re_1625860.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every genuine work of art has as much reason for being as the earth and the sun.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every genuine work of art has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-reason-for-being-as-the-earth/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/every-genuine-work-of-art-has-as-much-reason-for-being-as-the-earth/#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 } } ] } ```