The sun never knew how great it was until it hit the side of a building.
Louis KahnRead
The person of old had the same brilliance of mind that we assume we have now. But that which made a thing become manifest for the first time is our great moment of creative happening.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the timeless nature of human creativity and the significance of moments that lead to new manifestations of ideas.
Louis Kahn reflects on the brilliance of individuals throughout history, suggesting that the insightful minds of the past are comparable to our own. However, he highlights the importance of the moments of creativity that allow new ideas and forms to emerge, suggesting that creativity is not just an intellectual endeavor, but a transformative experience that brings forth new realities.
Themes
CreativityBrillianceMomentManifestationArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about innovation, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of creativity in bringing new ideas to life.
More from Louis Kahn
All quotes βI sense a Threshold: Light to Silence, Silence to Light - an ambiance of inspiration, in which the desire to be, to express, crosses with the possible Light to Silence, Silence to Light crosses in the sanctuary of art.
Louis KahnRead
Greek architecture taught me that the column is where the light is not, and the space between is where the light is. It is a matter of no-light, light, no-light, light. A column and a column brings light between them. To make a column which grows out of the wall and which makes its own rhythm of no-light, light, no-light, light: that is the marvel of the artist.
Louis KahnRead
The room is the beginning of architecture.
Louis KahnRead
Architecture is the reaching out for the truth.
Louis KahnRead
The creation of art is not the fulfillment of a need but the creation of a need. The world never needed Beethoven's Fifth Symphony until he created it. Now we could not live without it.
Louis KahnRead
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I think you too recognize the important relationship between philosophy and art, and it is just this relationship that most painters deny. The great masters do grasp it, unconsciously; but I believe that a painter's conscious spiritual knowledge will have a much greater influence upon his art, and that it would be due only to a weakness in him, or lack of genius, should this spiritual knowledge be harmful to his art.
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There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts.
John F. KennedyRead
About no subject are poets tempted to lie so much as about their own lives.
Margaret AtwoodRead
When things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art. I'm serious. Husband runs off with a politician -- make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by a mutated boa constrictor -- make good art. IRS on your trail -- make good art. Cat exploded -- make good art. Someone on the Internet thinks what you're doing is stupid or evil or it's all been done before -- make good art.
Neil GaimanRead
The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.
Andy WarholRead