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About this quote

What does it mean?
Dali criticizes the academic devaluation of traditional standards, arguing that prioritizing novelty at any cost degrades art.
In plain terms
He says making new art at any cost is just like using a latrine.
What can you take from it?
Chasing newness without quality standards can ruin the value of art.

Where it applies

  • critiquing modern art
  • academic debates
  • discussions on art standards

Putting it to work

  • evaluating artistic merit
  • critiquing trends
  • valuing tradition

Questions to consider

  • Does innovation always require discarding tradition?
  • What makes art valuable?

Another view

The tone is overly harsh and dismissive of all new approaches.

More from Salvador Dali

  1. I do not take drugs. I am drugs.

    Permalink to quote #16
  2. I tried sex once with a woman and that woman was Gala. It was overrated. I tried sex once with a man and that man was the famous juggler Federico Garcia Lorca …

    Permalink to quote #18
  3. 'At the age of 6, I wanted to be a female cook. At 7, Napoleon. After that, my ambition just went on growing. I wanted to be Salvador Dali and nobody else.'

    Permalink to quote #15

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