--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think artists are driven by the engine…" description: "\"I think artists are driven by the engine of their own talent, but it's a question of what use they put it to.\" — Tim Curry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg" --- # I think artists are driven by the engine of their own… ![“I think artists are driven by the engine of their own talent, but it's a question of what use they put it to.” quote by Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg) > “I think artists are driven by the engine of their own talent, but it's a question of what use they put it to.” [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists possess innate talent but must decide how to apply it meaningfully. **In simple terms:** Talent needs purpose. Key Takeaway Use talent for impact. Themes creativity purpose artistic responsibility Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career planning - art projects - social impact - personal development Key Concepts self‑actualization agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you align your talent with your goals? - What purpose drives your creative work? A Different Perspective Talent alone doesn't guarantee value without direction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of my friends do creative things and are doing really well at what they do - some writers, some artists. I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/a-lot-of-my-friends-do-creative-things-and-are-doing-really-well-at/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [Talent is a question of quantity. Talent does not write one page; it writes three hundred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/talent-is-a-question-of-quantity-talent-does-not-write-one-page-it/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Cassano? His talent has never been in question, but his character has. As Italian captain and a big admirer I can only wish him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/cassano-his-talent-has-never-been-in-question-but-his-character-has/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [I think you have some artists who try to be as conscious as they can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-devaughn/i-think-you-have-some-artists-who-try-to-be-as-conscious-as-they-can/) [Raheem DeVaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-devaughn/) > [When you think of Atlanta, you think of all these artists but what female? I want to be that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/latto/when-you-think-of-atlanta-you-think-of-all-these-artists-but-what/) [Latto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/latto/) > [I think artists should define themselves. They should speak about their work and how it relates to society and what's going on in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-parla/i-think-artists-should-define-themselves-they-should-speak-about/) [Jose Parla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-parla/) > [There's arrogance for you. I think all artists insert themselves into their subject matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-blackall/there-s-arrogance-for-you-i-think-all-artists-insert-themselves-into/) [Sophie Blackall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-blackall/) > [I'm probably not as big of a hip-hop fan as people may think. I'm not up on all the artists and know all their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-scott/i-m-probably-not-as-big-of-a-hip-hop-fan-as-people-may-think-i-m-not/) [Stuart Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-scott/) > [How can people think that artists seek a name? There is no such thing as an artist - only the world, lit or unlit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/how-can-people-think-that-artists-seek-a-name-there-is-no-such-thing/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I think artists are interested in what people think of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logic/i-think-artists-are-interested-in-what-people-think-of-them/) [Logic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logic/) > [“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/) > [I think artists who are attracted to working on the Net will adjust their work to the capabilities of a very small screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/i-think-artists-who-are-attracted-to-working-on-the-net-will-adjust/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [I think that what most artists are trying to do is trying to understand. I think what distinguishes creative people and/or artists from another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/i-think-that-what-most-artists-are-trying-to-do-is-trying-to/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [“I've said this before: a lot of people think they're artists because they feel things deeply. You know, we're in a culture now and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-ve-said-this-before-a-lot-of-people-think-they-re-artists-because/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [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/) ## More by Tim Curry > [I remember candy rationing until I was, like, 7.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-remember-candy-rationing-until-i-was-like-7/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [But we live in a modern world, you know, and, and also it does seem to me that if you - that whatever talents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/but-we-live-in-a-modern-world-you-know-and-and-also-it-does-seem-to/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [I like risky parts - abrasive characters the audience won't necessarily like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-like-risky-parts-abrasive-characters-the-audience-won-t-necessarily/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [When I did 'Amadeus,' I hadn't done a play for five years. And I was so happy doing it and felt so foolish that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/when-i-did-amadeus-i-hadn-t-done-a-play-for-five-years-and-i-was-so/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [Musicals are famous for being in a constant state of flux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/musicals-are-famous-for-being-in-a-constant-state-of-flux/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [I find there is something very intimate about being the voice in someone's ear when they're driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-find-there-is-something-very-intimate-about-being-the-voice-in/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [Mozart was very much an arrested adolescent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/mozart-was-very-much-an-arrested-adolescent/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [I've worked in a few sort of 'institutional' theaters - the Royal Shakespeare, the National Theater in England - and they're hopelessly top-heavy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-ve-worked-in-a-few-sort-of-institutional-theaters-the-royal/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [One of the best things that ever happened to me was Rocky Horror being a total flop in New York as a play. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/one-of-the-best-things-that-ever-happened-to-me-was-rocky-horror/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [Contrary to popular belief, I don't just play dreadful old villains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/contrary-to-popular-belief-i-don-t-just-play-dreadful-old-villains/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [My career has evolved at its own peculiar pace. American careers are supposed to have a much more singular direction than I've been able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/my-career-has-evolved-at-its-own-peculiar-pace-american-careers-are/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [The people on the business side in the music business are kind of different from the theatre business. I think it's partly because there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/the-people-on-the-business-side-in-the-music-business-are-kind-of/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [I want to establish a wide range and play all kinds of parts. It's that sort of acting career I really respect. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-want-to-establish-a-wide-range-and-play-all-kinds-of-parts-it-s/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [Well, you know... I grew up in postwar Britain, when you were lucky to get anything to eat. People in America have absolutely no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/well-you-know-i-grew-up-in-postwar-britain-when-you-were-lucky-to-get/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) > [I've turned down a lot of roles to make time to record and tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-ve-turned-down-a-lot-of-roles-to-make-time-to-record-and-tour/) [Tim Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) [Explore all 38 Tim Curry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/) ## 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 > [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 think artists are driven by the engine of their own talent, but it's a question of what use they put it to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Curry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine-of-their-own-talent-but-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine-of-their-own-talent-but-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/318/tim-curry-16860_art_i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine_340211.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think artists are driven by the engine of their own talent, but it's a question of what use they put it to.” — Tim Curry", "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": "Tim Curry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-curry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think artists are driven by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine-of-their-own-talent-but-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-curry/i-think-artists-are-driven-by-the-engine-of-their-own-talent-but-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 } } ] } ```