Drawing is . . . not an exercise of particular dexterity, but above all a means of expressing intimate feelings and moods.
Henri MatisseRead
I believe that a good children's book should appeal to all people who have not completely lost their original joy and wonder in life. The fact is that I don't make books for children at all. I make them for that part of us, of myself and of my friends, which has never changed, which is still a child.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Children's literature should resonate with the inner child in everyone.
In this quote, Leo Lionni emphasizes that true children's literature transcends age and is written for the joy and wonder that exists within all of us, regardless of our age. He believes that the essence of a good children's book is its ability to reawaken the child's spirit that resides in every adult, making it a universal experience rather than a mere children's genre.
Themes
ChildrenBooksJoyWonderCreativityArt
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote to inspire writers at a workshop focused on children's literature.
Similar quotes
I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.
MichelangeloRead
While all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists.
Marcel DuchampRead
Most bands out there are basically pretty boring. I try to affect people inside their bodies.
PrinceRead
I always know when a novel is going to be a Barbara Vine one. In fact I believe that if I weren't to write it as Barbara Vine, I wouldn't be able to write it at all.
Ruth RendellRead
We feel the same emotions for our ideas as we do for the real world, which is why we can cry while reading a book, or fall in love with movie stars.
Roger EbertRead