--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am not a complete idiot, but whether…" description: "\"I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only how to reflect: I am a mirror . . . Logic doe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png" --- # I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or… ![“I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only how to reflect: I am a mirror . . . Logic does not exist for me. I float on the waves of art and life and never really know how to distinguish what belongs to the one or the other or what is…” quote by Sviatoslav Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png) > “I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only how to reflect: I am a mirror . . . Logic does not exist for me. I float on the waves of art and life and never really know how to distinguish what belongs to the one or the other or what is common to both. Life unfolds for me like a theatre presenting a sequence of somewhat unreal sentiments; while the things of art are real to me and go straight to my heart.” [Sviatoslav Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sviatoslav-richter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He sees himself as a mirror, floating between art and life, unable to separate them. **In simple terms:** He feels like a mirror, blending art and life. Key Takeaway Embrace fluid identity between art and reality. Themes art identity philosophy Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - creative work - personal growth - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts self-reflection existentialism creativity Questions to Reflect On - How does art influence your self‑perception? - Can logic and emotion coexist? A Different Perspective His view may ignore logical reasoning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art and life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-and-life/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Floats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/floats/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Idiot Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot-weakness-2042762/) [Know how](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-how/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Laziness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laziness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/logic/) [Mirror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror/) [Mirror Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirror-logic-2042761/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [Presenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presenting/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Sentiments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentiments/) [Sequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sequence/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreal/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [“To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger-2/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Found objects, chance creations, ready-mades (mass-produced items promoted into art objects, such as Duchamp's "Fountain"-urinal as sculpture) abolish the separation between art and life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-simic/found-objects-chance-creations-ready-mades-mass-produced-items/) [Charles Simic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-simic/) > [In art and life we're always reading bodies and behaviors (and skies and skylines or whatever), constructing brief and shifting coherences, and I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/in-art-and-life-we-re-always-reading-bodies-and-behaviors-and-skies/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [We are concerned with the relationship between art and life. Contemporary art is only intelligible in terms of its relationship to our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elliott/we-are-concerned-with-the-relationship-between-art-and-life/) [David Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elliott/) > [The Difference Between Art and Life is that Art is More Bearable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-difference-between-art-and-life-is-that-art-is-more-bearable/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [The line between art and life should be kept as fluid, and perhaps indistinct, as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-kaprow/the-line-between-art-and-life-should-be-kept-as-fluid-and-perhaps/) [Allan Kaprow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-kaprow/) > [Art and life go together. I have to have a life filled with experiences to make art, and I have to have art around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/art-and-life-go-together-i-have-to-have-a-life-filled-with/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [This concern which interests us more than anything else: the blurring of the distinction between art and life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/this-concern-which-interests-us-more-than-anything-else-the-blurring/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I don't slot actors into the image of a character that's already built. I build characters by listening to the voice and the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-miike/i-don-t-slot-actors-into-the-image-of-a-character-that-s-already/) [Takashi Miike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-miike/) > [I feel that the only thing that really matters in art and life is to go against the tidal wave of literalism and literal-mindedness-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-salle/i-feel-that-the-only-thing-that-really-matters-in-art-and-life-is-to/) [David Salle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-salle/) > [Great artists are people who find the way to be themselves in their art. Any sort of pretension induces mediocrity in art and life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-fonteyn/great-artists-are-people-who-find-the-way-to-be-themselves-in-their/) [Margot Fonteyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-fonteyn/) > [Art and life ought to be hurriedly remarried and brought to live together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-walpole/art-and-life-ought-to-be-hurriedly-remarried-and-brought-to-live/) [Hugh Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-walpole/) > [Art is indeed not the bread but the wine of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/art-is-indeed-not-the-bread-but-the-wine-of-life/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [Art and life really are the same, and both can only be about a spiritual journey, a path towards a re-union with a supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-p-orridge/art-and-life-really-are-the-same-and-both-can-only-be-about-a/) [Genesis P-Orridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-p-orridge/) ## More by Sviatoslav Richter > [“A truly great piano is one that enables you to convey deep emotion”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatoslav-richter/a-truly-great-piano-is-one-that-enables-you-to-convey-deep-emotion/) [Sviatoslav Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sviatoslav-richter/) > [Put a small piano in a truck and drive out on country roads; take time to discover new scenery; stop in a pretty place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatoslav-richter/put-a-small-piano-in-a-truck-and-drive-out-on-country-roads-take-time/) [Sviatoslav Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sviatoslav-richter/) [Explore all 3 Sviatoslav Richter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sviatoslav-richter/) ## 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": "I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only how to reflect: I am a mirror . . . Logic does not exist for me. I float on the waves of art and life and never really know how to distinguish what belongs to the one or the other or what is common to both. Life unfolds for me like a theatre presenting a sequence of somewhat unreal sentiments; while the things of art are real to me and go straight to my heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sviatoslav Richter" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatoslav-richter/i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-from-weakness-or-laziness-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatoslav-richter/i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-from-weakness-or-laziness-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/sviatoslav-richter-78861_art_i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-fr_992819.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am not a complete idiot, but whether from weakness or laziness have no talent for thinking. I know only…” — Sviatoslav Richter", "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": "Sviatoslav Richter", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sviatoslav-richter/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am not a complete idiot,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatoslav-richter/i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-from-weakness-or-laziness-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sviatoslav-richter/i-am-not-a-complete-idiot-but-whether-from-weakness-or-laziness-have/#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 } } ] } ```