An artist may have burdens the ordinary citizen doesn't know, but the ordinary citizen has burdens that many artists never even touch.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I believe the artist has an obligation to society.
To retain his dignity, an artist must live in opposition. He must be critical of his country. If not, then he is worthless.
The artist forges himself to the others, midway between the beauty he cannot do without and the community he cannot tear himself away from. That is why true artists scorn nothing: they are obliged to understand rather than to judge.
I think an artist's responsibility is more complex than people realize.
What the artist owes the world is his work; not a model for living.
When an artist leaves his work to amuse people, he loses his time and their respect. If people are to be amused by artists, it must be by employing them in their legitimate occupation.
An artist cannot be responsible for what people make of their art. An audience loathe giving up preconceived images of an artist.
The artist is not responsible to any one. His social role is asocial... his only responsibility consists in an attitude to the work he does.
I think carrying moral baggage is very dangerous for an artist. If you have a duty, it's to be true and not cover up the cracks.
Artists instinctively want to reflect humanity, their own and each other's, in all its intermittent virtue and vitality, frailty and fallibility.
No opposing quotes found.