--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring…" description: "\"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.\" — Stephen Sondheim" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg" --- # Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos. ![“Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.” quote by Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg) > “Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.” [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art seeks to impose structure on disorder, turning chaos into meaning. **In simple terms:** Art orders chaos. Key Takeaway Create structure from disorder. Themes creativity order chaos expression Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - painting - music composition - urban planning - conflict resolution Key Concepts Aesthetics humanism pattern recognition Questions to Reflect On - How does your work transform disorder? - When does order become restrictive? A Different Perspective Art may impose false order, ignoring inherent complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-attempt-375083/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Attempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attempt/) [Bring Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-order-807395/) [Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaos/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Order Chaos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-chaos/) ## Related quotes > [Use design as a framework to bring order out of chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/use-design-as-a-framework-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [“Let others bring order to chaos. I would bring chaos to order, instead,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/let-others-bring-order-to-chaos-i-would-bring-chaos-to-order-instead/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [I will bring order from chaos and light from darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/i-will-bring-order-from-chaos-and-light-from-darkness/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [ \[Art is\] an attempt to escape from life. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/art-is-an-attempt-to-escape-from-life/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [ “\[denial\] is an attempt to bring order to our lives.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-galli/denial-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-to-our-lives/) [Mark Galli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-galli/) > [I'm always looking to find order within the chaos. And sometimes when my life gets fairly chaotic, I'll take a walk outside. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/i-m-always-looking-to-find-order-within-the-chaos-and-sometimes-when/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [In the never-ending battle between order and chaos, clutter sides with chaos every time. Anything that you possess that does not add to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-robbins/in-the-never-ending-battle-between-order-and-chaos-clutter-sides-with/) [John Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-robbins/) > [But it seems to me equally obvious that the orderliness is not all-pervasive. There are streaks of order to be found among the chaos,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-david-ritchie/but-it-seems-to-me-equally-obvious-that-the-orderliness-is-not-all/) [Arthur David Ritchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-david-ritchie/) > [Art is an attempt to integrate evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/art-is-an-attempt-to-integrate-evil/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Art is an attempt to understand, yielding pleasure in the attempt whether or not we understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/art-is-an-attempt-to-understand-yielding-pleasure-in-the-attempt/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [My art is an attempt to reach beyond the surface appearance. I want to see growth in wood, time in stone, nature in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-goldsworthy/my-art-is-an-attempt-to-reach-beyond-the-surface-appearance-i-want-to/) [Andy Goldsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-goldsworthy/) > [“Art is an attempt to capture the truths of the world as you see it in a medium you can share with others. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/art-is-an-attempt-to-capture-the-truths-of-the-world-as-you-see-it-in/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Art is an attempt to give substance to existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sondra-horton-fraleigh/art-is-an-attempt-to-give-substance-to-existence/) [Sondra Horton Fraleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sondra-horton-fraleigh/) > [Lao Tsu always points a finger directly to us. He says we must begin with ourselves. It's impossible to bring order into the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/lao-tsu-always-points-a-finger-directly-to-us-he-says-we-must-begin/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“All effort to bring order into disorder is disorder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/all-effort-to-bring-order-into-disorder-is-disorder/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) ## More by Stephen Sondheim > [I have, by nature, an analytical mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-by-nature-an-analytical-mind/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“They all deserve to die. Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why. Because in all of the whole human race Mrs Lovett, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/they-all-deserve-to-die-tell-you-why-mrs-lovett-tell-you-why-because/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [It's not so hard to be married, I've done it three or four times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/it-s-not-so-hard-to-be-married-i-ve-done-it-three-or-four-times/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-don-t-find-my-life-that-interesting-the-shows-maybe-but-not-me/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Careful the things you say, Children will listen. Careful the things you do, Children will see. And learn. Children may not obey But children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/careful-the-things-you-say-children-will-listen-careful-the-things/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [“Because in all of the whole human race Mrs. Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two There's the one staying put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/because-in-all-of-the-whole-human-race-mrs-lovett-there-are-two-kinds/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I love computers. I love writing on them. I love gadgetry. The thing is: I am a slow reader. So, if I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-love-computers-i-love-writing-on-them-i-love-gadgetry-the-thing-is/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-have-inherited-my-father-s-sense-of-humour-about-myself-it-s-a-lot/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-prefer-neurotic-people-i-like-to-hear-rumblings-beneath-the-surface/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-sure-many-writers-have-these-strange-tiny-little-habits/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/musicals-are-by-nature-theatrical-meaning-poetic-meaning-having-to/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/nowadays-there-are-sometimes-more-producers-than-there-are-people-in/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/perpetual-anticipation-is-good-for-the-soul-but-it-s-bad-for-the-heart/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-was-watching-him-crawl-back-over-the-wall-then-bang-crash-and-the/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/i-m-always-conscious-of-what-i-m-writing-conscious-of-what-the-actor/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) [Explore all 228 Stephen Sondheim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Sondheim" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/stephen-sondheim-1556_art_art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-ord_1019618.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.” — Stephen Sondheim", "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": "Stephen Sondheim", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Art, in itself, is an attempt...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/art-in-itself-is-an-attempt-to-bring-order-out-of-chaos/#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 } } ] } ```