--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The true painter must be able, with the…" description: "\"The true painter must be able, with the most usual things, to have the most unusual ideas.\" — Salvador Dali" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/salvador-dali-2350_able_the-true-painter-must-be-able-with-the-m_2022012.png" --- # The true painter must be able, with the most usual things… ![“The true painter must be able, with the most usual things, to have the most unusual ideas.” quote by Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/salvador-dali-2350_able_the-true-painter-must-be-able-with-the-m_2022012.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/salvador-dali-2350_able_the-true-painter-must-be-able-with-the-m_2022012.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/salvador-dali-2350_able_the-true-painter-must-be-able-with-the-m_2022012.png) > “The true painter must be able, with the most usual things, to have the most unusual ideas.” [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity involves transforming ordinary subjects into extraordinary concepts. **In simple terms:** Turn everyday objects into unique ideas. Key Takeaway Seek novelty in the familiar. Themes creativity art imagination Mood inspired playful Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - painting - design - teaching - marketing - problem solving Key Concepts surrealism conceptual thinking innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply ordinary objects to spark new ideas? - What limits does practicality impose on imagination? A Different Perspective May overlook practical constraints when chasing novelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painter/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) ## Related quotes > [The true painter strives to paint what can only be seen through his world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-malraux/the-true-painter-strives-to-paint-what-can-only-be-seen-through-his/) [Andre Malraux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-malraux/) > [A true photographer is as rare as a true poet or a true painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/a-true-photographer-is-as-rare-as-a-true-poet-or-a-true-painter/) [Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/) > [“In a world where no one is compelled to work more than four hours a day, every person possessed of scientific curiosity will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-krznaric/in-a-world-where-no-one-is-compelled-to-work-more-than-four-hours-a/) [Roman Krznaric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-krznaric/) > [It reflects no great honour on a painter to be able to execute one thing well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-reflects-no-great-honour-on-a-painter-to-be-able-to-execute-one/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [It reflects no great honor on a painter to be able to execute only one thing well -- such as a head, an academy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-reflects-no-great-honor-on-a-painter-to-be-able-to-execute-only/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“When everything looks unusual around you, your eyes and your mind mostly need anything usual! Unfamiliar disturbs us; familiar comforts us! But for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-everything-looks-unusual-around-you-your-eyes-and-your-mind/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Greatness, generally speaking, is an unusual quantity of a usual quality grafted upon a common man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-allen-white/greatness-generally-speaking-is-an-unusual-quantity-of-a-usual/) [William Allen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-allen-white/) > [The foolish man wonders at the unusual, but the wise man at the usual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-foolish-man-wonders-at-the-unusual-but-the-wise-man-at-the-usual/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > […Tell me, has anything odd happened to you recently? What do you mean, odd?' Unusual. Deviating from the customary. Something outside the usual parameters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/tell-me-has-anything-odd-happened-to-you-recently-what-do-you-mean/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [The Greeks already understood that there was more interest in portraying an unusual character than a usual character - that is the purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabelle-huppert/the-greeks-already-understood-that-there-was-more-interest-in/) [Isabelle Huppert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabelle-huppert/) > [The unusual wins out over the usual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/the-unusual-wins-out-over-the-usual/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [Carbon dioxide is unusual because it doesn't go through the usual three phases of matter, from solid to liquid to gas, but it goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/carbon-dioxide-is-unusual-because-it-doesn-t-go-through-the-usual/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [“usual is nature ; unusual is creature…!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-a-samuel/usual-is-nature-unusual-is-creature/) [felix a samuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-a-samuel/) > [It is so wonderful to our neurologists that a man can see without his eyes, that it does not occur to them that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-so-wonderful-to-our-neurologists-that-a-man-can-see-without-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) ## More by Salvador Dali > [Since I don't smoke, I decided to grow a mustache - it is better for the health. However, I always carried a jewel-studded cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/since-i-don-t-smoke-i-decided-to-grow-a-mustache-it-is-better-for-the/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/there-is-only-one-difference-between-a-madman-and-me-the-madman/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/those-who-do-not-want-to-imitate-anything-produce-nothing/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Someone like myself, who claimed to be a real madman, living and organized with a Pythagorean precision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/someone-like-myself-who-claimed-to-be-a-real-madman-living-and/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [I seated ugliness on my knee, and almost immediately grew tired of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/i-seated-ugliness-on-my-knee-and-almost-immediately-grew-tired-of-it/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Great wine requires a mad man to grow the vine, a wise man to watch over it, a lucid poet to make it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/great-wine-requires-a-mad-man-to-grow-the-vine-a-wise-man-to-watch/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Liking money like I like it, is nothing less than mysticism. Money is a glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/liking-money-like-i-like-it-is-nothing-less-than-mysticism-money-is-a/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Instead of stubbornly attempting to use surrealism for purposes of subversion, it is necessary to try to make of surrealism something as solid, complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/instead-of-stubbornly-attempting-to-use-surrealism-for-purposes-of/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [It is mostly with your blood, Gala that I paint my pictures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/it-is-mostly-with-your-blood-gala-that-i-paint-my-pictures/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/at-the-age-of-six-i-wanted-to-be-a-cook-at-seven-i-wanted-to-be/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [To be interesting, one has to provoke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/to-be-interesting-one-has-to-provoke/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Beauty should be edible, or not at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/beauty-should-be-edible-or-not-at-all/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/the-thermometer-of-success-is-merely-the-jealousy-of-the-malcontents/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Democratic governments are not suited to the publication of the thunderous revelations I am in the habit of making. The unpublished parts will appear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/democratic-governments-are-not-suited-to-the-publication-of-the/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [Without hesitation, I place Freud among the heroes. He dispossessed the Jewish people of the greatest and most influential of all heroes-Moses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/without-hesitation-i-place-freud-among-the-heroes-he-dispossessed-the/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) [Explore all 153 Salvador Dali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. 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I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. 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