Photography is about finding things. And painting is different - it's about making something.
Saul LeiterRead
I have a deep-seated distrust and even contempt for people who are driven by ambition to conquer the world … those who cannot control themselves and produce vast amounts of crap that no one cares about. I find it unattractive. I like the Zen artists: they’d do some work, and then they’d stop for a while.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses skepticism towards those who are overly ambitious and produce work without meaningful value.
Saul Leiter critiques the relentless ambition that drives some individuals to indiscriminately create and achieve, leading to a proliferation of mediocre or unwanted output. Instead, he appreciates the mindset of Zen artists, who create thoughtfully and know when to pause, prioritizing quality and introspection over quantity and ambition.
Themes
AmbitionArtValueQualityCreativityZen
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about work-life balance, this quote serves as a reminder to focus on meaningful output rather than relentless ambition.
More from Saul Leiter
All quotes →I may be old-fashioned. But I believe there is such a thing as a search for beauty - a delight in the nice things in the world. And I don't think one should have to apologise for it.
Saul LeiterRead
I spent a great deal of my life being ignored. I was always very happy that way. Being ignored is a great privilege. That is how I think I learned to see what others do not see and to react to situations differently. I simply looked at the world, not really prepared for anything.
Saul LeiterRead
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