The Quotes canon

Sourced and curated.

Every quote has been curated by hand and carefully authenticated.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
I celebrate myself, and sing myself. — Walt Whitman · 1855A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song. — Joan Walsh Anglund · 1967Individuality of expression is the beginning and end of all art. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1840The pen is the tongue of the soul. — Miguel de Cervantes · 1615Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is. — Jackson PollockI will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use—silence, exile and cunning. — James Joyce · 1915All 12 quotes →
Art5 quotes
Individuality of expression is the beginning and end of all art. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe · 1840Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is. — Jackson PollockI don't paint out of responsibility. I paint out of need. — Jim Dine · 2010I'm using art as a means of changing myself, as a means of breaking out of a category. — Vito Acconci · 1971The blue period was not a question of color. It was an inner necessity to paint like that. — Pablo Picasso · 1956
Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is. — Jackson PollockI don't paint out of responsibility. I paint out of need. — Jim Dine · 2010The blue period was not a question of color. It was an inner necessity to paint like that. — Pablo Picasso · 1956
Authenticity2 quotes
I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use—silence, exile and cunning. — James Joyce · 1915When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flung at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets. — James Joyce · 1915
Painting2 quotes
Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is. — Jackson PollockI don't paint out of responsibility. I paint out of need. — Jim Dine · 2010
I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use—silence, exile and cunning. — James Joyce · 1915When the soul of a man is born in this country there are nets flung at it to hold it back from flight. You talk to me of nationality, language, religion. I shall try to fly by those nets. — James Joyce · 1915
I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use—silence, exile and cunning. — James Joyce · 1915
Bird songs1 quote
A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song. — Joan Walsh Anglund · 1967
Birds1 quote
A bird does not sing because he has an answer. He sings because he has a song. — Joan Walsh Anglund · 1967
Dancing1 quote
Dance is the hidden language of the soul. — Martha Graham · 1991
I celebrate myself, and sing myself. — Walt Whitman · 1855
I'm using art as a means of changing myself, as a means of breaking out of a category. — Vito Acconci · 1971
I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that in which I no longer believe, whether it call itself my home, my fatherland, or my church: and I will try to express myself in some mode of life or art as freely as I can and as wholly as I can, using for my defence the only arms I allow myself to use—silence, exile and cunning. — James Joyce · 1915
Quotations1 quote
I quote others only in order the better to express myself. — Michel de Montaigne · 1575
Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is. — Jackson Pollock
Vocation1 quote
I don't paint out of responsibility. I paint out of need. — Jim Dine · 2010
Writing1 quote
The pen is the tongue of the soul. — Miguel de Cervantes · 1615