There is no pulse so sure of the state of a nation as its characteristic art product which has nothing to do with its material life. (New York: Liveright, 1970, p. 12)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A nations characteristic art reveals its true state more than its material life.
- In plain terms
- Art shows what a nation is really like inside.
- What can you take from it?
- Look to art to understand a culture's true condition.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does your favorite art say about society?
- Can you judge a nation by its movies?
Another view
Art might not reflect the average person life reality.
More from Gertrude Stein
The reason why all of us naturally began to live in France is because France has scientific methods, machines and electricity, but does not really believe that…
Permalink to quote #98 A nice war is a war where everybody who is heroic is a hero, and everybody more or less is a hero in a nice war. Now this war is not at all a nice war.
Permalink to quote #100 The family is always the family but during vacations it is an extended family and that is exhausting. (New York: Liveright, 1970, p. 107)
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