Basic Books > Quotes

“Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them. We are not here to do what has already been done.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“I believe the great artists of the future will use fewer words, copy fewer things, essays will be shorter in words and longer in meaning. There will be a battle against obscurity. Effort will be made to put everything plain, out in the open. By this means we will enter into the real mystery. There will be fewer things said and done, but each thing will be fuller and will receive fuller consideration. Now we waste. There is too much “Art,” too much “decoration,” too many things are made, too many amusements wasted. Not enough is fully considered. We must paint only what is important to us, must not respond to outside demands. They do not know what they want, or what we have to give.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“The study of art is the study of the relative value of things.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“There is nothing more entertaining than to have a frank talk with yourself. Few do it—frankly. Educating yourself is getting acquainted with yourself. Find out what you really like if you can. Find out what is really important to you. Then sing your song. You will have something to sing about and your whole heart will be in the singing.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“original art is self-regulated; and no original art can be regulated from without. It carries its own counterpoise and does not receive it from elsewhere—lives on its own blood.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“you will never find yourself unless you quit preconceiving what you will be when you have found yourself.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“When the artist is alive in any person, whatever his kind of work may be, he becomes an inventive, searching, daring, self-expressing creature. He becomes interesting to other people. He disturbs, upsets, enlightens, and he opens ways for a better understanding. Where those who are not artists are trying to close the book, he opens it, shows there are still more pages possible.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“A thing that has not been begun cannot be finished.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“The picture that bowls you over at first sight and the next day loses even the power to attract your attention is one that looks always the same. It has a moment of life but dies immediately thereafter.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom. If one could but recall his vision by some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented. Sign-posts on the way to what may be. Sign-posts toward greater knowledge. — Robert Henri”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“Nothing is right until all is done and a total unity has been accomplished.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“Innovations are financial risks.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“Beauty is an intangible thing; can not be fixed on the surface, and the wear and tear of old age on the body cannot defeat it. Nor will a “pretty” face make it, for “pretty” faces are often dull and empty, and beauty is never dull and it fills all spaces.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“When a thing is put down in such permanent mediums as paint or stone it should be a thing well worthy of record. It must be the work of one who has looked at all things, has interested himself in all life.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit

“Water runs down hill concisely. There is no quibbling about it. It does not have to run up hill in order to be entertaining. Man has always followed its course with fascination. The soul of man may reveal its mysteries through direct expression, simple speech, simple gesture, simple painting, just as the soul of the brook is expressed in full simplicity and economy.”
― Basic Books, The Art Spirit