--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art achieves all little things by…" description: "\"Art achieves all little things by absolute truth: but all her great things need some admixture of illusion.\" — Richard B. Garnett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-b-garnett-30310_absolute-truth_art-achieves-all-little-things-by-absolu_193201.jpg" --- # Art achieves all little things by absolute truth: but all… ![“Art achieves all little things by absolute truth: but all her great things need some admixture of illusion.” quote by Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-b-garnett-30310_absolute-truth_art-achieves-all-little-things-by-absolu_193201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-b-garnett-30310_absolute-truth_art-achieves-all-little-things-by-absolu_193201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e0/richard-b-garnett-30310_absolute-truth_art-achieves-all-little-things-by-absolu_193201.jpg) > “Art achieves all little things by absolute truth: but all her great things need some admixture of illusion.” [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievements require truth, but imagination and illusion add inspiration and depth. **In simple terms:** Truth grounds work; imagination enriches it. Key Takeaway Balance factual integrity with creative vision. Themes art creativity truth illusion balance Mood inspired thoughtful Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - writing - painting - design - innovation - storytelling Key Concepts philosophy aesthetics psychology Questions to Reflect On - When does imagination become deception? - How can truth and illusion coexist productively? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on illusion can mislead or obscure reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolute truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Achieves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-achieves-2036589/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Things Absolute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-absolute-2036590/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Art for art's sake, with no purpose, for any purpose perverts art. But art achieves a purpose which is not its own. (1804)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-constant/art-for-art-s-sake-with-no-purpose-for-any-purpose-perverts-art-but/) [Benjamin Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-constant/) > [Simplicity is not an objective in art, but one achieves simplicity despite one's self by entering into the real sense of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-brancusi/simplicity-is-not-an-objective-in-art-but-one-achieves-simplicity/) [Constantin Brancusi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-brancusi/) > [There are only two things that are absolute realities, love and knowledge, and you can't escape them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olive-schreiner/there-are-only-two-things-that-are-absolute-realities-love-and/) [Olive Schreiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olive-schreiner/) > [Among the things that you, and you alone, are the absolute and final judge of is whether or not you are a success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/among-the-things-that-you-and-you-alone-are-the-absolute-and-final/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“There is no rule that you must do great things, but whatever you do, you must do your absolute best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/there-is-no-rule-that-you-must-do-great-things-but-whatever-you-do/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [You can't relate to an absolute or it wouldn't be absolute, it would be relative. On an intellectual level, that's easy. However, you hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thurman/you-can-t-relate-to-an-absolute-or-it-wouldn-t-be-absolute-it-would/) [Robert Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-thurman/) > [“humans rarely choose things in absolute terms. We don’t have an internal value meter that tells us how much things are worth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/humans-rarely-choose-things-in-absolute-terms-we-don-t-have-an/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [“When you look at what C.S. Lewis is saying, his message is so anti-life, so cruel, so unjust. The view that the Narnia books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/when-you-look-at-what-c-s-lewis-is-saying-his-message-is-so-anti-life/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [We can never achieve absolute truth but we can live hopefully by a system of calculated probabilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-meyer-driscoll/we-can-never-achieve-absolute-truth-but-we-can-live-hopefully-by-a/) [Agnes Meyer Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-meyer-driscoll/) > [We're not given the chance to choose absolute truth. Truth's always two-faced. The only thing we have is the right to reject the lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/we-re-not-given-the-chance-to-choose-absolute-truth-truth-s-always/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [I struggled in the beginning. I said I was going to write the truth, so help me God. And I thought I was. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-struggled-in-the-beginning-i-said-i-was-going-to-write-the-truth-so/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nobody-in-this-world-possesses-absolute-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/when-i-say-that-a-thing-is-true-i-mean-that-i-cannot-help-believing/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-m-morris/the-bodily-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead-is-the-crowning/) [Henry M. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-m-morris/) ## More by Richard B. Garnett > [In the religion of Love the courtesan is a heretic; but the nun is an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/in-the-religion-of-love-the-courtesan-is-a-heretic-but-the-nun-is-an/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Love is wont to visit Man in the company of Desire; but Woman by himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/love-is-wont-to-visit-man-in-the-company-of-desire-but-woman-by/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Passion is Love's blind guide, but the only one he hath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/passion-is-love-s-blind-guide-but-the-only-one-he-hath/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Were Love exempt from the militations of Necessity, he were greater than God and the World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/were-love-exempt-from-the-militations-of-necessity-he-were-greater/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Then is Love blest, when from the cup of the body he drinks the wine of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/then-is-love-blest-when-from-the-cup-of-the-body-he-drinks-the-wine/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [As the bud a leaf, so at last the thought becomes a word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/as-the-bud-a-leaf-so-at-last-the-thought-becomes-a-word/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Life without Love is as a flower without fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/life-without-love-is-as-a-flower-without-fragrance/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Every veil secretly desires to be lifted, except the veil of Hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/every-veil-secretly-desires-to-be-lifted-except-the-veil-of-hypocrisy/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Wail not too wildly for expiring Love: The Love that dies was never quite alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/wail-not-too-wildly-for-expiring-love-the-love-that-dies-was-never/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Love is God's essence; Power but his attribute: therefore is his love greater than his power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/love-is-god-s-essence-power-but-his-attribute-therefore-is-his-love/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Thou canst not pray to God without praying to Love, but mayest pray to Love without praying to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/thou-canst-not-pray-to-god-without-praying-to-love-but-mayest-pray-to/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [It is no wonder if Art frequently prefers Illusion to Truth: for Illusion is her servant, but Truth her mistress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/it-is-no-wonder-if-art-frequently-prefers-illusion-to-truth-for/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [If Pity come as Pity, bid her stay; But if in guise of Love, chase her away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/if-pity-come-as-pity-bid-her-stay-but-if-in-guise-of-love-chase-her/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [Trust Love, nor fear to soar upon his track. The wings that bore to Heaven will bear thee back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/trust-love-nor-fear-to-soar-upon-his-track-the-wings-that-bore-to/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [The three eldest children of Necessity: God, the World and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/the-three-eldest-children-of-necessity-god-the-world-and-love/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) [Explore all 17 Richard B. Garnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) ## More Absolute truth quotes > [“I know quite well why I became a historian… It was because dissension was frowned upon when I was a child: 'Don't argue, Claudia,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-lively/i-know-quite-well-why-i-became-a-historian-it-was-because-dissension/) [Penelope Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-lively/) > [“When you’ve tired of me,” she said softly, precisely, “Apollo will still be my brother. Will still be there for me.” “I’ll never tire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/when-you-ve-tired-of-me-she-said-softly-precisely-apollo-will-still/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-m-morris/the-bodily-resurrection-of-jesus-christ-from-the-dead-is-the-crowning/) [Henry M. Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-m-morris/) > [“I think adults forget just how much faith teenagers can have in them, just how willing to believe that adults, by virtue of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-think-adults-forget-just-how-much-faith-teenagers-can-have-in-them/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [The Absolute Truth of Knowledge is precisely non-Knowledge. If this Mirror called Knowledge remains in the phase where nothing is reflected in it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/the-absolute-truth-of-knowledge-is-precisely-non-knowledge-if-this/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Let every one of us cultivate, in every word that issues from our mouth, absolute truth. I say cultivate, because to very few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/let-every-one-of-us-cultivate-in-every-word-that-issues-from-our/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Who can know what love means at the feet of the absolute truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/who-can-know-what-love-means-at-the-feet-of-the-absolute-truth/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [When I say that a thing is true, I mean that I cannot help believing it... But...I do not venture to assume that my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/when-i-say-that-a-thing-is-true-i-mean-that-i-cannot-help-believing/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Because God is spirit...I will seek intimate fellowship with Him. Because God is all-powerful...He can help me with anything. Because God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-william-r-bright/attributes-of-god-because-god-is-spirit-i-will-seek-intimate/) [Dr William R Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-william-r-bright/) > [“Somehow I feel that a person who thinks he has discovered the absolute truth will not be someone I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-joseph/somehow-i-feel-that-a-person-who-thinks-he-has-discovered-the/) [Manu Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-joseph/) > [“Leave science out of it and live in accordance with a non-scientific absolute truth. This has been the strategy of liberal humanism, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/leave-science-out-of-it-and-live-in-accordance-with-a-non-scientific/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-i-d-written-all-the-truth-i-knew-for-the-past-ten-years-about-600/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Only when we realize that there is no eternal, unchanging truth or absolute truth can we arouse in ourselves a sense of intellectual responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hu-shih/only-when-we-realize-that-there-is-no-eternal-unchanging-truth-or/) [Hu Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hu-shih/) > [Nobody in this world possesses absolute truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/nobody-in-this-world-possesses-absolute-truth/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It isn’t the absolute truth about life and death, but the thing that helps us to live and confront the challenges of day-to-day life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-isn-t-the-absolute-truth-about-life-and-death-but-the-thing-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) [Browse all 317 Absolute truth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolute-truth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Art achieves all little things by absolute truth: but all her great things need some admixture of illusion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard B. 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