Achieve Quote by Walter Legge
![“I am convinced that in the arts, committees are useless. What is necessary are people like Karajan, [fellow recording producer John] Culshaw and me; we know not only how to achieve the best artistic results but how to attract the public and carry out the whole operation with carefully chosen…” quote by Walter Legge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f76/walter-legge-70735_achieve_i-am-convinced-that-in-the-arts-committe_499365.jpg)
“I am convinced that in the arts, committees are useless. What is necessary are people like Karajan, [fellow recording producer John] Culshaw and me; we know not only how to achieve the best artistic results but how to attract the public and carry out the whole operation with carefully chosen collaborators. Democracy is fatal for the arts; it leads only to chaos or the achievement of new and lower common denominators of quality.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio, 1963
The speaker argues that artistic excellence requires strong, decisive leadership rather than democratic decision‑making, which he believes dilutes quality.
In simple terms: Strong leadership beats democratic chaos in art.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize decisive, expert direction.
Themes
leadership
artistic quality
collaboration
elitism
democracy
Mood
critical
assertive
Type
opinion
statement
When to use this quote
- orchestra management
- recording projects
- cultural policy
- team selection
Key Concepts
creative control
quality standards
public engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can expertise be balanced with inclusive input?
- What risks arise from centralized control?
A Different Perspective
Democratic input can bring diverse perspectives and innovation.
