--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we accept bad art because it's good…" description: "\"When we accept bad art because it's good politics, we're killing the swan to feed the chickens.\" — Tom Robbins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg" --- # When we accept bad art because it's good politics, we're… ![“When we accept bad art because it's good politics, we're killing the swan to feed the chickens.” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg) > “When we accept bad art because it's good politics, we're killing the swan to feed the chickens.” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes compromising artistic integrity for political agendas, harming true art. **In simple terms:** Bad art accepted for politics harms true art. Key Takeaway Prioritize artistic truth over political utility. Themes art politics integrity Mood critical thoughtful analytical Type art political When to use this quote - gallery curations - political campaigns - media criticism Key Concepts censorship artistic compromise Questions to Reflect On - When is political art valuable? - How to balance art and activism? A Different Perspective Risk of dismissing art with social impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [You never count your chickens before they hatch. I used to keep parakeets and I never counted every egg thinking I would get all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-holloway/you-never-count-your-chickens-before-they-hatch-i-used-to-keep/) [Ian Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-holloway/) > [I find the good in a friend and accept the bad in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadarms/i-find-the-good-in-a-friend-and-accept-the-bad-in-them/) Hadarms > [Parents need to acknowledge the good and accept the bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/if/parents-need-to-acknowledge-the-good-and-accept-the-bad/) IF > [People say find good people and leave the bad ones I think we should find good in people and accept the bad in them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/people-say-find-good-people-and-leave-the-bad-ones-i-think-we-should/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“The good and the bad things are part of life. Accept it. The bad is a learning process, you will surpass it. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-marie-aguilar/the-good-and-the-bad-things-are-part-of-life-accept-it-the-bad-is-a/) [Ann Marie Aguilar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-marie-aguilar/) > [“Accept that you are bad and dirty and cheap and should be thrown to the wolves as scrap meat, and must never bear children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynch/accept-that-you-are-bad-and-dirty-and-cheap-and-should-be-thrown-to/) [Jennifer Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynch/) > [“Just accept it will be a bad night,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/just-accept-it-will-be-a-bad-night/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“It’s like I’m trying to keep the bad away with one hand while holding on to the good with the other, and it just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-lochen/it-s-like-i-m-trying-to-keep-the-bad-away-with-one-hand-while-holding/) [Andrea Lochen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-lochen/) > [“Bad things will happen to you and they won’t be your fault. 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You understand what I mean? You’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-delozier/some-people-can-accept-bad-circumstances-in-their-own-lives-but-some/) Arthur DeLozier ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. 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It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we accept bad art because it's good politics, we're killing the swan to feed the chickens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good-politics-we-re-killing-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good-politics-we-re-killing-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3f/tom-robbins-169_accepting_when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good_1105966.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we accept bad art because it's good politics, we're killing the swan to feed the chickens.” — Tom Robbins", "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": "Tom Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we accept bad art because...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good-politics-we-re-killing-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-bad-art-because-it-s-good-politics-we-re-killing-the/#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 } } ] } ```