--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a work progresses, its power to elicit…" description: "\"As a work progresses, its power to elicit and dictate response mounts. There seems to be an optimum moment when this power is at its greatest which jus..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversaries_as-a-work-progresses-its-power-to-elicit_1780766.jpg" --- # As a work progresses, its power to elicit and dictate… ![“As a work progresses, its power to elicit and dictate response mounts. There seems to be an optimum moment when this power is at its greatest which just precedes the point where 'elicit' is no longer apt usage. 'Dictates' is the word for this condition and tyranny is the adversary.” quote by Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversaries_as-a-work-progresses-its-power-to-elicit_1780766.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversaries_as-a-work-progresses-its-power-to-elicit_1780766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/richard-diebenkorn-18615_adversaries_as-a-work-progresses-its-power-to-elicit_1780766.jpg) > “As a work progresses, its power to elicit and dictate response mounts. There seems to be an optimum moment when this power is at its greatest which just precedes the point where 'elicit' is no longer apt usage. 'Dictates' is the word for this condition and tyranny is the adversary.” [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The impact of a work grows until it reaches a peak where it controls reactions, after which it becomes oppressive. **In simple terms:** Art can become tyrannical when its influence peaks. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper influence before it becomes domination. Themes art power influence tyranny Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - gallery openings - public installations - political propaganda - media campaigns Key Concepts aesthetics control peak effect Questions to Reflect On - When does influence become control? - How can creators maintain humility? A Different Perspective Power can corrupt the original intent of the work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Tyranny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyranny/) ## Related quotes > [Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/act-so-as-to-elicit-the-best-in-others-and-thereby-in-thyself/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [I do not - I never believed it's better to kill a terrorist than to detain him. We want to detain as many terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-do-not-i-never-believed-it-s-better-to-kill-a-terrorist-than-to/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [Being able to elicit the feeling of the unfathomable in intelligent adults is like falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drummond-money-coutts/being-able-to-elicit-the-feeling-of-the-unfathomable-in-intelligent/) [Drummond Money-Coutts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drummond-money-coutts/) > [Moreover, only a strong and united scientific opinion imposing the intrinsic value of scientific progress on society at large can elicit the support of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-polanyi/moreover-only-a-strong-and-united-scientific-opinion-imposing-the/) [Michael Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-polanyi/) > [You have to learn to ask questions in a way that will elicit more nuanced answers, rather than the answers you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-novogratz/you-have-to-learn-to-ask-questions-in-a-way-that-will-elicit-more/) [Jacqueline Novogratz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-novogratz/) > [I think a lot of the most interesting work in art and in films are often kind of polarized opinions and affect people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-cole/i-think-a-lot-of-the-most-interesting-work-in-art-and-in-films-are/) [Lily Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-cole/) > [The real difference between literature and pulp is the kind of emotional responses they elicit. Dan Brown can't pierce your heart. Patricia Cornwell can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-temple/the-real-difference-between-literature-and-pulp-is-the-kind-of/) [Peter Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-temple/) > [“In the end… he would choose Campisi. In the end… she would choose Abandonato. In the end… there would be bloodshed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-van-dyken/in-the-end-he-would-choose-campisi-in-the-end-she-would-choose/) [Rachel Van Dyken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-van-dyken/) > [In handling resources, strive to avoid disaster rather than to attain an optimum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butler-lampson/in-handling-resources-strive-to-avoid-disaster-rather-than-to-attain/) Butler Lampson > [Desired substance, things, patterns, or sequences of experience that are in some sense "good" for the organism - items of diet, conditions of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/desired-substance-things-patterns-or-sequences-of-experience-that-are/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [I decided this early on at Justice: if the traditional way was the most effective way of doing something, then we'd maintain it. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashcroft/i-decided-this-early-on-at-justice-if-the-traditional-way-was-the/) [John Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashcroft/) > [This seems clear enough: When truly present in nature, we do use all our senses at the same time, which is the optimum state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-louv/this-seems-clear-enough-when-truly-present-in-nature-we-do-use-all/) [Richard Louv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-louv/) > [The optimum frequency with which comedians should do a series is every year. I do one every three years. My audience is literally dying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-sayle/the-optimum-frequency-with-which-comedians-should-do-a-series-is/) [Alexei Sayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-sayle/) > [I think people need to commit to one another before they commit to bringing children into the world because that's the optimum arrangement for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-ward-sears/i-think-people-need-to-commit-to-one-another-before-they-commit-to/) [Leah Ward Sears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-ward-sears/) > [“You can’t work with people you hate and succeed. At least, you won’t get the optimum of what you would have obtained when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-can-t-work-with-people-you-hate-and-succeed-at-least-you-won-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Richard Diebenkorn > [I trust the symbol that is arrived at in the making of the painting. Meaningful symbols aren't invented as such, they are made or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-trust-the-symbol-that-is-arrived-at-in-the-making-of-the-painting/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Abstract means literally to draw from or separate. In this sense every artist is abstract for he must create his own work from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/abstract-means-literally-to-draw-from-or-separate-in-this-sense-every/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I don't go into the studio with the idea of 'saying' something. What I do is face the blank canvas and put a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-don-t-go-into-the-studio-with-the-idea-of-saying-something-what-i/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [And I can just see that sometimes the technique is blasting powder rather than steady struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/and-i-can-just-see-that-sometimes-the-technique-is-blasting-powder/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I want painting to be difficult to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-want-painting-to-be-difficult-to-do/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [All paintings start out of a mood, out of a relationship with things or people, out of a complete visual impression. To call this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/all-paintings-start-out-of-a-mood-out-of-a-relationship-with-things/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [In a successful painting everything is integral - all the parts belong to the whole. If you remove an aspect or element you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/in-a-successful-painting-everything-is-integral-all-the-parts-belong/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [One wants to see the artifice of the thing as well as the subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/one-wants-to-see-the-artifice-of-the-thing-as-well-as-the-subject/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I would like the colors, their shapes and positions to be arrived at in response to and dictated by the condition of the total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-would-like-the-colors-their-shapes-and-positions-to-be-arrived-at/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [With rare exceptions, I respond most to painting that cuts across grain rather than following it. I think the artist here can get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/with-rare-exceptions-i-respond-most-to-painting-that-cuts-across/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Somehow don't be bored, but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/somehow-don-t-be-bored-but-if-you-must-use-it-in-action-use-its/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [I want a painting to be difficult to do. The more obstacles, obstructions, problems - if they don't overwhelm - the better. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/i-want-a-painting-to-be-difficult-to-do-the-more-obstacles/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Mistakes can't be erased, but they move you from your present position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/mistakes-can-t-be-erased-but-they-move-you-from-your-present-position/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/use-and-respond-to-the-initial-fresh-qualities-but-consider-them/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) > [My father didn't think being an artist was a respectable or worthy goal for a man. He hoped I would see my way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-diebenkorn/my-father-didn-t-think-being-an-artist-was-a-respectable-or-worthy/) [Richard Diebenkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) [Explore all 34 Richard Diebenkorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-diebenkorn/) ## More Adversaries quotes > [In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/in-all-matters-of-opinion-our-adversaries-are-insane/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Inanimate objects are sometimes parties to litigation. A ship has a legal personality, a fiction found useful for maritime purposes. The corporation sole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/inanimate-objects-are-sometimes-parties-to-litigation-a-ship-has-a/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [There were various aspects of Sun Tzu's approach that appealed to Ho Chi Minh: a) to learn to understand both the enemy and yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/there-were-various-aspects-of-sun-tzu-s-approach-that-appealed-to-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) > [Marriage, in my view, should be a balanced stalemate between equal adversaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/marriage-in-my-view-should-be-a-balanced-stalemate-between-equal/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If an adversary didn't target our power plants but they did target the core routers, the backbones that tie our internet connections together, entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-an-adversary-didn-t-target-our-power-plants-but-they-did-target/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [It's like I'm married to the silencer, Until I file for divorce and release my ex-calibers. Do art with your arteries, place that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pharoahe-monch/it-s-like-i-m-married-to-the-silencer-until-i-file-for-divorce-and/) [Pharoahe Monch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pharoahe-monch/) > [Educational exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations. Man's capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/educational-exchange-can-turn-nations-into-people-contributing-as-no/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [Obama is hardly the first president to seek rapprochement with our adversaries and reconciliation with our enemies, of course. But his determination to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/obama-is-hardly-the-first-president-to-seek-rapprochement-with-our/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [It is better to make friends than adversaries of a conquered race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/it-is-better-to-make-friends-than-adversaries-of-a-conquered-race/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [“The most courageous act in politics is to try to understand your opponent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/the-most-courageous-act-in-politics-is-to-try-to-understand-your/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [My adversary is the world of finance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-hollande/my-adversary-is-the-world-of-finance/) [Francois Hollande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-hollande/) > [Often GOP political strategy seems like the human wave theory of the Chinese military translated to politics. Where Beijing uses masses of soldiers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-morris/often-gop-political-strategy-seems-like-the-human-wave-theory-of-the/) [Dick Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-morris/) > [Our ability to fall in love requires enough comfort with our masculinity to join it with someone's femininity and feel enhanced. .. . If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/our-ability-to-fall-in-love-requires-enough-comfort-with-our/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [You negotiate in bad faith if you do not forgive your adversary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/you-negotiate-in-bad-faith-if-you-do-not-forgive-your-adversary/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/we-should-seek-after-spiritual-gifts-they-can-lead-us-to-god-they-can/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) [Browse all 446 Adversaries quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversaries/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a work progresses, its power to elicit and dictate response mounts. There seems to be an optimum moment when this power is at its greatest which just precedes the point where 'elicit' is no longer apt usage. 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