Artist Quote by Robert Henri
““In these times there is a powerful demarcation between the surface and the deep currents of human development. Events and upheavals, which seem more profound than they really are, are happening on the surface. But there is another and deeper change in progress. It is of long, steady persistent growth, very little affected and not at all disturbed by surface conditions. The artist of today should be alive to this deeper evolution on which all growth depends, has depended and will depend. On the surface there is the battle of institutions, the illustration of events, the strife between peoples. On the surface there is propaganda and there is the effort to force opinions. The deeper current carries no propaganda. The shock of the surface upheaval does not deflect it from its course. It is in search of fundamental principle; that basic principle of all, which in degree as it is apprehended points the way to beauty and order, and to the law of nature.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Art of Being a Creative Artist", 1905
True progress lies in deep, steady growth invisible on the surface, beyond institutions and propaganda.
In simple terms: Deep growth happens quietly, beyond visible turmoil.
Focus on internal development rather than external noise.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- career development
- long‑term projects
- personal mastery
- social change
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What deep principles guide your work?
- How can you stay steady amid turmoil?
Surface events can distract from lasting change.