Jean Cocteau Art Quotations

Lying is the only art form that the public sanctions and instinctively prefers to reality.

The art of genius is knowing how far out is too far.

The artist must know how far to go too far.

The ultimate politeness in art consists of speaking only to those who are able to uncover and measure its relationships. Anything else is symbolic, and symbolism is merely transcendental imagery.

The artist is a kind of prison from which the works of art escape.

Look out! Be on your guard, because alone of all the arts, music moves all around you.

Art is science made flesh.

The actual tragedies of life bear no relation to one's preconceived ideas. In the event, one is always bewildered by their simplicity, their grandeur of design, and by that element of the bizarre which seems inherent in them.

The poet never asks for admiration; he wants to be believed.

Emotion resulting from a work of art is only of value when it is not obtained by sentimental blackmail.

What uniform can I wear to hide my heavy heart? It is too heavy. It will always show. Jacques felt himself growing gloomy again. He was well aware that to live on earth a man must follow its fashions, and hearts were no longer worn.

All spiritual journeys are martyrdoms

Poetry is a religion without hope, but its martyrs guarantee the eternal truth of its dogma.

Art produces ugly things which frequently become beautiful with time.

Appreciation of art is a moral erection, otherwise mere dilettantism.

One must be a living man and a posthumous artist.

Artists can no more speak about their work, than plants can speak about horticulture.

The only work of art which succeeds is that which fails.

An artist cannot speak about his art any more than a plant can discuss horticulture.

Film will only became an art when its materials are as inexpensive as pencil and paper.

The reward of art is not fame or success but intoxication: that is why so many bad artists are unable to give it up.

Art is science in the flesh.

Poetry is indispensable --if I only knew what for.

When a work of art appears to be in advance of its period, it is really the period that has lagged behind the work of art

Art is not a pastime but a priesthood.

A film is a petrified fountain of thought.

Children and lunatics cut the Gordian knot which the poet spends his life patiently trying to untie.

Asking an artist to talk about his work is like asking a plant to discuss horticulture.

The job of the poet (a job which can't be learned) consists of placing those objects of the visible world which have become invisible due to the glue of habit, in an unusual position which strikes the soul and gives them a tragic force.

Art is a marriage of the conscious and the unconscious.

Nothing ever gets anywhere. The earth keeps turning round and gets nowhere. The moment is the only thing that counts.

An original artist is unable to copy. So he has only to copy in order to be original.