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Art is the final cunning of the human soul which would rather do anything than face the gods.
Iris Murdoch
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Art serves as an expression of humanity's deepest concerns and fears, often acting as a diversion from confronting the divine or existential truths.

This quote by Iris Murdoch suggests that art is a profound and clever manifestation of the human spirit, crafted not just for beauty, but as a means to evade facing uncomfortable truths about existence and the divine. It highlights the complexities of the human condition, where individuals may find solace and meaning in artistic expression rather than confronting the often daunting nature of reality or spirituality.

Themes

ArtSoulExpressionHumanityTruthCreation

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in discussions about the role of art in society during an exhibition.

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All art deals with the absurd and aims at the simple. Good art speaks truth, indeed is truth, perhaps the only truth.
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Perhaps when distant people on other planets pick up some wavelength of ours all they hear is a continuous scream.
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