I was born in a world of opera, theatre, films, poetry, art, and therefore, out of the wire, I made a stage. That's why they call me a high wire artist.
Philippe PetitRead
The essential thing is to etch movements in the sky, movements so still they leave no trace. The essential thing is simplicity. / That is why the long path to perfection is horizontal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of simplicity and fluidity in art and life.
Philippe Petit's quote reflects a philosophical approach to creativity and achievement, advocating for simplicity in expression. By suggesting that the most impactful movements are those that are subtle and leave no trace, he is highlighting the beauty of simplicity and the often unnoticed elegance in mastery. The reference to the 'long path to perfection is horizontal' indicates that true progression may not always be visible or dramatic but is found in a steady and uncomplicated journey.
Themes
SimplicityPerfectionCreativityMovementArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about minimalism in art, one could say, 'As Philippe Petit said, the essential thing is simplicity.'
More from Philippe Petit
All quotes βOn a very long and very high wire, I will not hope to not be blown off by high winds. I will have the certitude that such could not happen.
Philippe PetitRead
Many people use the words 'death defying' or 'death wishing' when they talk about wire-walking. Many people have asked me: 'So do you have a death wish?' After doing a beautiful walk, I feel like punching them in the nose. It's indecent. I have a life wish.
Philippe PetitRead
It's very easy to walk on a wire if you spend a whole lifetime practicing for it.
Philippe PetitRead
I am not up there by chance. I am there by choice. And I know the wire. And I know my limits. And I am a madman of details.
Philippe PetitRead
It is treacherous on a high wire to change your focus point and suddenly look down.
Philippe PetitRead
Similar quotes
Scientific culture created a framework within which individual mobility was possible without threatening hierarchical work-force allocation. On the contrary, meritocracy reinforced hierarchy. Finally, meritocracy as an operation and scientific culture as an ideology created veils that hindered perception of the underlying operations of historical capitalism.
Immanuel WallersteinRead
There haven't been enough profound things written about what being black means and what a black character is. Nobody knows.
James Earl JonesRead
The President, and government, will only control the militia when a part of them is in the actual service of the federal government, else, they are independent and not under the command of the president or the government. The states would control the militia, only when called out into the service of the state, and then the governor would be commander in chief where enumerated in the respective state constitution.
Alexander HamiltonRead
For this equilibrium now in sight, let us trust that mankind, as it has occurred in the greatest periods of its past, will find for itself a new code of ethics, common to all, made of tolerance, of courage, and of faith in the Spirit of men.
Albert ClaudeRead
Boredom is an instrument of social control. Power is the power to impose boredom, to command stasis, to combine this stasis with anguish. The real tedium, deep tedium, is seasoned with terror and with death.
Saul BellowRead
I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end.
Simone De BeauvoirRead