--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is art? It is not just nature, it is…" description: "\"What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature. It is intelligence applied to what physical ability you have.\" — Rudolf Nureyev" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/rudolf-nureyev-29098_ability_what-is-art-it-is-not-just-nature-it-is_2165783.jpg" --- # What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature… ![“What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature. It is intelligence applied to what physical ability you have.” quote by Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/rudolf-nureyev-29098_ability_what-is-art-it-is-not-just-nature-it-is_2165783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/rudolf-nureyev-29098_ability_what-is-art-it-is-not-just-nature-it-is_2165783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/rudolf-nureyev-29098_ability_what-is-art-it-is-not-just-nature-it-is_2165783.jpg) > “What is art? It is not just nature, it is nurtured nature. It is intelligence applied to what physical ability you have.” [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) ## 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 cultivated nature, applying intelligence and skill to transform raw material into expressive work. **In simple terms:** Art is nurtured nature using skill and intelligence. Key Takeaway Develop skill to express ideas creatively. Themes art creativity skill intelligence Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - painting - music - dance - writing - design projects Key Concepts nurture transformation aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - How can you nurture your natural talents? - What intelligence do you apply to your creative work? A Different Perspective Skill development takes time and resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Physical ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-ability/) ## Related quotes > [I've seen people recover physical abilities, yet never get over emotional trauma after a serious accident. I've seen other people overcome the psychological and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/i-ve-seen-people-recover-physical-abilities-yet-never-get-over/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) > [I always felt that my greatest asset was not my physical ability, it was my mental ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/i-always-felt-that-my-greatest-asset-was-not-my-physical-ability-it/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [“Most soccer experts agree that there four pieces to the soccer jigsaw puzzle: technical ability, tactical understanding, physical ability, and the psychological part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-latham/most-soccer-experts-agree-that-there-four-pieces-to-the-soccer-jigsaw/) Andrew Latham > [At some point, your physical ability, it can't be the only thing you rely on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquem-griffin/at-some-point-your-physical-ability-it-can-t-be-the-only-thing-you/) [Shaquem Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquem-griffin/) > [As the strong man exults in his physical ability, delighting in such exercises as call his muscles into action, so glories the analyst in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/as-the-strong-man-exults-in-his-physical-ability-delighting-in-such/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [Destiny is an absolutely definite and inexorable ruler. Physical ability and moral determination count for nothing. It is impossible to perform the simplest act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/destiny-is-an-absolutely-definite-and-inexorable-ruler-physical/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [It wasn't until I went to Korea out of high school and got exposed to the martial arts for the first time and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/it-wasn-t-until-i-went-to-korea-out-of-high-school-and-got-exposed-to/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [“It isn't just physical ability and average intelligence but an insatiable appetite for success and an unflagging will power that would texture the warp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mp-anil-kumar/it-isn-t-just-physical-ability-and-average-intelligence-but-an/) MP Anil Kumar > [Like many young women, I grew up believing that (1) physical ability wasn't very important, and (2) I didn't have any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/like-many-young-women-i-grew-up-believing-that-1-physical-ability/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [When the photographer Philippe Halsman said, 'Jump,' no one asked how high. People simply pushed off or leapt up to the extent that physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-halsman/when-the-photographer-philippe-halsman-said-jump-no-one-asked-how/) [Philippe Halsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-halsman/) > [Intelligence increases mere physical ability one half. The use of the head abridges the labor of the hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/intelligence-increases-mere-physical-ability-one-half-the-use-of-the/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Physical ability only goes so far. You have to work hard the rest of the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-rollins/physical-ability-only-goes-so-far-you-have-to-work-hard-the-rest-of/) [Jimmy Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-rollins/) > [There is a difference between CAN'T and WON'T. 'Can't' can be the result of lacking physical ability, but 'won't' has more to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tj-hoisington/there-is-a-difference-between-can-t-and-won-t-can-t-can-be-the-result/) TJ Hoisington > [Please stop worrying about how much you can do! STOP judging yourself and others on physical abilities and prowess, stop believing MORE is better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-kest/please-stop-worrying-about-how-much-you-can-do-stop-judging-yourself/) [Bryan Kest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-kest/) > [When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/when-i-was-young-i-had-to-learn-the-fundamentals-of-basketball-you/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## More by Rudolf Nureyev > [The only critic is a full house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/the-only-critic-is-a-full-house/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [When I miss class for one day, I know it. When I miss class for two days, my teacher knows it. When I miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/when-i-miss-class-for-one-day-i-know-it-when-i-miss-class-for-two/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/the-main-thing-is-dancing-and-before-it-withers-away-from-my-body-i/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I approach dancing from a different angle than those who begin dancing at 8 or 9. Those who have studied from the beginning never question anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-approach-dancing-from-a-different-angle-than-those-who-begin/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [My feet are dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/my-feet-are-dogs/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [Technique is what you fall back on when you run out of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/technique-is-what-you-fall-back-on-when-you-run-out-of-inspiration/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [As long as my ballets are danced, I will live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/as-long-as-my-ballets-are-danced-i-will-live/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [Of course I have a personal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/of-course-i-have-a-personal-life/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I’m really alive when I’m on stage,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-m-really-alive-when-i-m-on-stage/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [For me, purity of movement wasn't enough. I needed expression, more intensity, more mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/for-me-purity-of-movement-wasn-t-enough-i-needed-expression-more/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [We danced with one body, one soul... For me, Margot is my family. She is all I have, only her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/we-danced-with-one-body-one-soul-for-me-margot-is-my-family-she-is/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I don't care if Margot is a Dame of the British Empire or older than myself. For me she represents eternal youth; there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-don-t-care-if-margot-is-a-dame-of-the-british-empire-or-older-than/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [There was simply from this quite early age the awareness that the only thing I wanted was to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/there-was-simply-from-this-quite-early-age-the-awareness-that-the/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [I really have to dance more often, and so I travel around. If I don't, I will crumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/i-really-have-to-dance-more-often-and-so-i-travel-around-if-i-don-t-i/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) > [You live as long as you dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-nureyev/you-live-as-long-as-you-dance/) [Rudolf Nureyev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) [Explore all 18 Rudolf Nureyev quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-nureyev/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What is art? 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