--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Style is a fraud. I always felt the…" description: "\"Style is a fraud. I always felt the Greeks were hiding behind their columns.\" — Willem de Kooning" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/willem-de-kooning-12563_behinds_style-is-a-fraud-i-always-felt-the-greek_216412.jpg" --- # Style is a fraud. I always felt the Greeks were hiding… ![“Style is a fraud. I always felt the Greeks were hiding behind their columns.” quote by Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/willem-de-kooning-12563_behinds_style-is-a-fraud-i-always-felt-the-greek_216412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/willem-de-kooning-12563_behinds_style-is-a-fraud-i-always-felt-the-greek_216412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/willem-de-kooning-12563_behinds_style-is-a-fraud-i-always-felt-the-greek_216412.jpg) > “Style is a fraud. I always felt the Greeks were hiding behind their columns.” [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultural symbols often mask deeper truths; questioning appearances reveals hidden realities. **In simple terms:** Greek columns hide deeper truths. Key Takeaway Question appearances to uncover truth. Themes art culture illusion critical thinking Mood critical inquisitive Type artistic philosophical When to use this quote - museum visits - architectural tours - design critique Key Concepts aesthetics philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern genuine from false symbolism? - What does “style” mean to you? A Different Perspective Some symbols have genuine meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Fraud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fraud/) [Greeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greeks/) [Hype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hype/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) ## Related quotes > [“The fraudulence paradox was that the more time and effort you put into trying to appear impressive or attractive to other people, the less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/the-fraudulence-paradox-was-that-the-more-time-and-effort-you-put-2/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [Eat more like the French. Or the Japanese. Or the Italians. Or the Greeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/eat-more-like-the-french-or-the-japanese-or-the-italians-or-the-greeks/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“...Turn our thoughts, in the next place, to the characters of learned men. The priesthood have, in all ancient nations, nearly monopolized learning. Read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/turn-our-thoughts-in-the-next-place-to-the-characters-of-learned-men/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [The human eye has long fascinated lovers, artists and physicians. The ancient Greeks dissected eyes, but struggled to understand how they worked, unclear as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-birkhead/the-human-eye-has-long-fascinated-lovers-artists-and-physicians-the/) [Tim Birkhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-birkhead/) > [“What could you possibly write at Gates of Hades?” Cadmus asked. “Keep your spirits up.” Lycon sheathed the dagger he’d used to chisel the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sulari-gentill/what-could-you-possibly-write-at-gates-of-hades-cadmus-asked-keep/) [Sulari Gentill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sulari-gentill/) > [From one learn all. I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/from-one-learn-all-i-fear-the-greeks-even-when-they-bring-gifts/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [How can any educated person stay away from the Greeks? I have always been far more interested in them than in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/how-can-any-educated-person-stay-away-from-the-greeks-i-have-always/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I can play lots of nationalities: Greeks, South Americans, Arabs, all sorts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/i-can-play-lots-of-nationalities-greeks-south-americans-arabs-all/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [From Architecture down to the Zodiac, every science worthy of the name was imported by the Greeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-blavatsky/from-architecture-down-to-the-zodiac-every-science-worthy-of-the-name/) [H. P. Blavatsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-blavatsky/) > [If you want to talk about cultural appropriation, we have to go back to the Greeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mcdormand/if-you-want-to-talk-about-cultural-appropriation-we-have-to-go-back/) [Frances McDormand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mcdormand/) > [There are proofs that date back to the Greeks that are still valid today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wiles/there-are-proofs-that-date-back-to-the-greeks-that-are-still-valid/) [Andrew Wiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wiles/) > [“Even the Greeks—the so called champions of democracy—voted without ever allowing a single woman into the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/even-the-greeks-the-so-called-champions-of-democracy-voted-without/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [The vast majority of Greeks accept the need for reform and want to keep our country inside the euro zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangelos-venizelos/the-vast-majority-of-greeks-accept-the-need-for-reform-and-want-to/) [Evangelos Venizelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangelos-venizelos/) > [For the Greeks, there was no single canonical version of creation, but a number of overlapping stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macgregor/for-the-greeks-there-was-no-single-canonical-version-of-creation-but/) [Neil MacGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macgregor/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Willem de Kooning > [The texture of experience is prior to everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/the-texture-of-experience-is-prior-to-everything-else/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Art should not have to be a certain way,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/art-should-not-have-to-be-a-certain-way/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [I think I'm painting a picture of two women but it may turn out to be a landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/i-think-i-m-painting-a-picture-of-two-women-but-it-may-turn-out-to-be/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Im not someone whos ever said anything definitive about his work. In my life also I have very little fixed form. I can change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/im-not-someone-whos-ever-said-anything-definitive-about-his-work-in/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Whatever an artist's personal feelings are, as soon as an artist fills a certain area on the canvas or circumscribes it, he becomes historical.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/whatever-an-artist-s-personal-feelings-are-as-soon-as-an-artist-fills/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [The idea of space is given to the artist to change if he can. The subject matter in the abstract is space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/the-idea-of-space-is-given-to-the-artist-to-change-if-he-can-the/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [If I stretch my arms and wonder where my fingers are - that is all the space I need as a painter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/if-i-stretch-my-arms-and-wonder-where-my-fingers-are-that-is-all-the/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [The artist fills space with an attitude. The attitude never comes from himself alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/the-artist-fills-space-with-an-attitude-the-attitude-never-comes-from/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Flesh was the reason why oil painting was invented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/flesh-was-the-reason-why-oil-painting-was-invented/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [I feel sometimes an American artist must feel, like a baseball player or something - a member of a team writing American history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/i-feel-sometimes-an-american-artist-must-feel-like-a-baseball-player/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Maybe in that earlier phase I was painting the woman in me. Art isn't a wholly masculine occupation, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/maybe-in-that-earlier-phase-i-was-painting-the-woman-in-me-art-isn-t/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Yes, I am influenced by everbody. But every time I put my hands in my pockets I find someone else's fingers there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/yes-i-am-influenced-by-everbody-but-every-time-i-put-my-hands-in-my/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [I'd like to get all the colors in the world into one painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/i-d-like-to-get-all-the-colors-in-the-world-into-one-painting/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [Spiritually I am wherever my spirit allows me to be, and that is not necessarily in the future... Art never seems to make me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/spiritually-i-am-wherever-my-spirit-allows-me-to-be-and-that-is-not/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) > [If you're an artist, the problem is to make a picture work whether you are happy or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-de-kooning/if-you-re-an-artist-the-problem-is-to-make-a-picture-work-whether-you/) [Willem de Kooning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) [Explore all 54 Willem de Kooning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-de-kooning/) ## More Behinds quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. 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If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/) [Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/) [Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/) > [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. 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All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Style is a fraud. 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