---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The argument that most lawmakers make…"
description: "\"The argument that most lawmakers make about graffiti is that it's illegal because it's an eyesore, but you could easily argue that a lot of advertising..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg"
---

#  The argument that most lawmakers make about graffiti is…

![“The argument that most lawmakers make about graffiti is that it's illegal because it's an eyesore, but you could easily argue that a lot of advertising is an eyesore.” quote by Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg)

> “The argument that most lawmakers make about graffiti is that it's illegal because it's an eyesore, but you could easily argue that a lot of advertising is an eyesore.”

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote critiques the inconsistency in labeling graffiti as an eyesore while similar visual clutter exists in advertising, questioning societal standards.

**In simple terms:** Inconsistent standards for visual clutter.

Key Takeaway

Question double standards in public art.

Themes

art public space double standards

Mood

critical analytical

Type

social political

When to use this quote

- city planning
- advertising policy
- public murals

Key Concepts

urban studies media criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- Why are some visual forms accepted and others not?
- How can public art be regulated fairly?

A Different Perspective

May overlook legal and safety concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Advertising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/) [Advertising Eyesore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising-eyesore-1827118/) [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Could](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/could/) [Eyesore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyesore-59754/) [Graffiti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti/) [Graffiti Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graffiti-illegal-1827116/) [Illegal Eyesore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-eyesore-1827117/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/)

## Related quotes

> [It was a pleasure to be a gay eyesore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-loud/it-was-a-pleasure-to-be-a-gay-eyesore/)

[Lance Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-loud/)

> [“Simt tristetea pe care o raspandesc ochii mei mari deschisi in obscuritate. As dormi sa uit, as dormi.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeni-acterian/simt-tristetea-pe-care-o-raspandesc-ochii-mei-mari-deschisi-in/)

[Jeni Acterian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeni-acterian/)

> [“it’s just an expensive eyesore announcing to the world that he’s too hip to get his news online like the rest of the world,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-s-just-an-expensive-eyesore-announcing-to-the-world-that-he-s-too/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [“So we have this eyesore on the property. No, it’s not the beagle. I can understand why you’d think that, though.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-vernon/so-we-have-this-eyesore-on-the-property-no-it-s-not-the-beagle-i-can/)

[Ursula Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-vernon/)

> [Art shows and the institutions end up being the couriers for culture for the next generation and are an important component as well. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/art-shows-and-the-institutions-end-up-being-the-couriers-for-culture/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [The problem with copyright enforcement is that when the parameters aren't incredibly well defined, it means big corporations, who have deeper pockets and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/the-problem-with-copyright-enforcement-is-that-when-the-parameters/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [The way I make art, the way a lot of people make art, is as an extension of language and communication, where references are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/the-way-i-make-art-the-way-a-lot-of-people-make-art-is-as-an-2/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [I've never really considered myself just a street artist. I consider myself a populist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/i-ve-never-really-considered-myself-just-a-street-artist-i-consider/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [I never set out to be a groundbreaking artist in the sense of doing something that's never been done before. I set out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/i-never-set-out-to-be-a-groundbreaking-artist-in-the-sense-of-doing/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [Currently, it was leading him through a neighborhood that was on the downside of whatever curve you hoped you'd bought your property on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/currently-it-was-leading-him-through-a-neighborhood-that-was-on-the/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [You know, you'd hide behind a Public Enemy or Ice Cube, or Bruce Springsteen, or U2, because they spoke for you. But now everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/you-know-you-d-hide-behind-a-public-enemy-or-ice-cube-or-bruce/)

[Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/)

> [“A novel is no different than graffiti in a bathroom stall, it's just more pretentious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-leigh-stewart/a-novel-is-no-different-than-graffiti-in-a-bathroom-stall-it-s-just/)

[Christy Leigh Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christy-leigh-stewart/)

> [I love graffiti because it enables kids from every social extraction to do something that brings them closer to art, when they normally wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-mcgee/i-love-graffiti-because-it-enables-kids-from-every-social-extraction/)

[Barry McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-mcgee/)

> [Environmental damage such as graffiti, fly-posting and general littering is a menace that is becoming all too prevalent, not just in inner cities but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-beckett/environmental-damage-such-as-graffiti-fly-posting-and-general/)

[Margaret Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-beckett/)

> [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/)

[Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/)

## More by Shepard Fairey

> [When it comes to the street-art world, there are a lot of people who realize if they go out and put up a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/when-it-comes-to-the-street-art-world-there-are-a-lot-of-people-who/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [Obama has had a really tough time, but there have been a lot of things that he's compromised on that I never would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/obama-has-had-a-really-tough-time-but-there-have-been-a-lot-of-things/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [I never set out to be a groundbreaking artist in the sense of doing something that's never been done before. I set out to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/i-never-set-out-to-be-a-groundbreaking-artist-in-the-sense-of-doing/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [For me, there has always been a disconnect with the sort of elitist structure of the high-art world - and my distaste for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/for-me-there-has-always-been-a-disconnect-with-the-sort-of-elitist/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [If you're creating something that has some sort of cultural currency - if the idea is getting out there - then that will probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/if-you-re-creating-something-that-has-some-sort-of-cultural-currency/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [Every spoof gives more power to the original.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/every-spoof-gives-more-power-to-the-original/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [There's good and bad in every arena. It's funny, some people, the reason they're in the underground is because they're lazy and don't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/there-s-good-and-bad-in-every-arena-it-s-funny-some-people-the-reason/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [I consider myself a multi-platform artist - not just a street artist - but the audience I found through street art has created many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/i-consider-myself-a-multi-platform-artist-not-just-a-street-artist/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [There are too many bad policy choices to go into that are being pushed by the Trump Administration, but the relaxation of environmental regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/there-are-too-many-bad-policy-choices-to-go-into-that-are-being/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [Creating is about sharing ideas, sharing aesthetics, sharing what you believe in with other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/creating-is-about-sharing-ideas-sharing-aesthetics-sharing-what-you/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [Street art, of course, is political, because it's illegal, so the very act of doing it is an act of defiance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/street-art-of-course-is-political-because-it-s-illegal-so-the-very/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [People romanticize struggle and obscurity, and I get that, but it's a very one-dimensional argument to say that people who have money are evil,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/people-romanticize-struggle-and-obscurity-and-i-get-that-but-it-s-a/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [If any group wants to not be disenfranchised, then understanding that there's going to be a learning curve for people who have disenfranchised them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/if-any-group-wants-to-not-be-disenfranchised-then-understanding-that/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [Why is non-commercial public expression considered criminal?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/why-is-non-commercial-public-expression-considered-criminal/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

> [I think the Internet has definitely made it easier for people to have stuff seen, but it's also encouraged a level of ADD, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/i-think-the-internet-has-definitely-made-it-easier-for-people-to-have/)

[Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

[Explore all 86 Shepard Fairey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/)

## More Advertising quotes

> [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [Advertising justifies its existence when used in the public interest-it is much too powerful a tool to use solely for commercial purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gossage/advertising-justifies-its-existence-when-used-in-the-public-interest/)

[Howard Gossage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gossage/)

> [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [We have the capital, the resources, and the technology that we need to build a mobile advertising platform across the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-tewari/we-have-the-capital-the-resources-and-the-technology-that-we-need-to/)

[Naveen Tewari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-tewari/)

> [“Never run advertising until the major publicity possibilities have been exploited.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/never-run-advertising-until-the-major-publicity-possibilities-have/)

[Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/)

> [God never talks. But the devil keeps advertising, Father. The devil does a lot of commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-peter-blatty/god-never-talks-but-the-devil-keeps-advertising-father-the-devil-does/)

[William Peter Blatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-peter-blatty/)

> [I like Valentine's Day. The trouble is the florists and the candy-makers and the card people are all advertising so much, you don't dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-like-valentine-s-day-the-trouble-is-the-florists-and-the-candy/)

[Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/)

> [I happened to be spotted by a modeling agent who offered me a part-time job at 16. Everything happened very quickly after that -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-happened-to-be-spotted-by-a-modeling-agent-who-offered-me-a-part/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [They say that Madison Avenue will only pay high dollars in advertising if they get the 18-35 age range.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gless/they-say-that-madison-avenue-will-only-pay-high-dollars-in/)

[Sharon Gless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gless/)

> [“There's not a branch of publishing or broadcasting that doesn't depend in some way on advertising. It'd be like an aquarium without water. Why,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-s-not-a-branch-of-publishing-or-broadcasting-that-doesn-t/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I've driven people mad on films that I've made - I want more takes; I want to try new lines. Then I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-ve-driven-people-mad-on-films-that-i-ve-made-i-want-more-takes-i/)

[Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/)

> [This hype word bothers me though It always sounds like an accusation, what does it mean, advertising, column inches in the press? Bands themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/this-hype-word-bothers-me-though-it-always-sounds-like-an-accusation/)

[Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/)

> [I'm supposed to be taking time off. But I'm still writing and I have this Gap advert lined up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stone/i-m-supposed-to-be-taking-time-off-but-i-m-still-writing-and-i-have/)

[Joss Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stone/)

> [Any seeming deception in a statement is costly, not only in the expense of the advertising but in the detrimental effect produced upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wanamaker/any-seeming-deception-in-a-statement-is-costly-not-only-in-the/)

[John Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wanamaker/)

[Browse all 1,942 Advertising quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advertising/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The argument that most lawmakers make about graffiti is that it's illegal because it's an eyesore, but you could easily argue that a lot of advertising is an eyesore.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shepard Fairey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-about-graffiti-is-that-it-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Advertising"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-about-graffiti-is-that-it-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1fd/shepard-fairey-7921_advertising_the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-ab_2586867.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The argument that most lawmakers make about graffiti is that it's illegal because it's an eyesore, but you…” — Shepard Fairey",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Shepard Fairey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The argument that most lawmakers make...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-about-graffiti-is-that-it-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/the-argument-that-most-lawmakers-make-about-graffiti-is-that-it-s/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
