Fortunately, somewhere between chance and mystery lies imagination, the only thing that protects our freedom, despite the fact that people keep trying to reduce it or kill it off altogether.
Luis BunuelRead
In any society, the artist has a responsibility. His effectiveness is certainly limited and a painter or writer cannot change the world. But they can keep an essential margin of non-conformity alive. Thanks to them the powerful can never affirm that everyone agrees with their acts. That small difference is important.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Artists play a crucial role in society, maintaining a voice of dissent and individuality.
This quote by Luis Bunuel highlights the role of artists as crucial dissenting voices within any society. While individual artists like painters or writers may not have the power to directly change the world, they hold a significant responsibility in keeping alive a spirit of non-conformity, ensuring that alternative perspectives exist. This essential margin of difference is vital because it prevents those in power from assuming absolute agreement with their actions, thereby fostering a culture of critical thought and dialogue.
Themes
ArtistSocietyResponsibilityNon-ConformityPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a public lecture on the impact of art, one could cite this quote to emphasize the artist's role.
More from Luis Bunuel
All quotes →I find it [science] analytical, pretentious and superficial-largely because it does not address itself to dreams, chance, laughter, feelings, or paradox-in other words,-all the things I love the most.
Luis BunuelRead
In the name of Hippocrates, doctors have invented the most exquisite form of torture ever known to man: survival.
Luis BunuelRead
A paranoiac like a poet, is born, not made.
Luis BunuelRead
I say to hell with the work you have to do to earn a living! That kind of work does us no honor; all it does is fill up the bellies of the pigs who exploit us. But the work you do because you like to do it, because you've heard the call, you've got a vocation - that's ennobling! We should all be able to work like that. Look at me, Saturno - I don't work. And I don't care if they hang me, I won't work! Yet I'm alive! I may live badly, but at least I don't have to work to do it!
Luis BunuelRead
I would give my life for a man who is looking for the truth. But I would gladly kill a man who thinks that he has found the truth.
Luis BunuelRead
Similar quotes
Photography is the easiest thing in the world if one is willing to accept pictures that are flaccid, limp, bland, banal, indiscriminately informative, and pointless. But if one insists in a photograph that is both complex and vigorous it is almost impossible
John SzarkowskiRead
Photos are profound because they have such short lives. They are more like fingerprints, dead leaves, rain puddles, or the corpses of flies.
Tom WaitsRead
I feel as though I've gotten to a point where I don't really want to set a book in any real place ever again.
Jhumpa LahiriRead
Music sets up certain vibration which unquestionably results in a physical reaction. Eventually the proper vibration for every person will be found and utilized.
George GershwinRead
The sound of colors is so definite that it would be hard to find anyone who would express bright yellow with bass notes or dark lake with treble.
Wassily KandinskyRead
Relating a person to the whole world: that is the meaning of cinema.
Andrei TarkovskyRead