Art Quotes

Music, movies, poetry, sculptures, and more. Art comes in more forms than you can shake a paintbrush at. Click on any art quote below to see it in context and find out where it falls on Shmoop's pretentious scale. We'll give you details on who said it, when they said it, and in some cases, why on earth they thought it was okay to say it.

Maya Angelou
"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise."
Source: Still I Rise | Author: Maya Angelou
Don McLean
"Bye, bye Miss American Pie"
Source: American Pie | Speaker: Don McLean
John D. Hackensacker III
"Chivalry is not only dead, it's decomposed."
Source: The Palm Beach Story | Speaker: John D. Hackensacker III
Vicki Lester
"Hello, everybody. This is Mrs. Norman Maine."
Source: A Star Is Born | Speaker: Vicki Lester
Leonardo da Vinci
"Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful."
Source: The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci | Author: Leonardo da Vinci
Pablo Neruda
"I love you only because it's you the one I love"
Source: I Do Not Love You Except Because I Love You | Author: Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda
"If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you."
Source: If You Forget Me | Author: Pablo Neruda
ABBA
"If you change your mind, I'm the first in line. Honey, I'm still free, take a chance on me."
Source: Take a Chance on Me | Speaker: ABBA
Andy Warhol
"In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes."
Source: Art exhibit at the Moderna Museet | Author: Andy Warhol
Ed Sullivan
"It's a really big show tonight!"
Source: The Ed Sullivan Show | Speaker: Ed Sullivan
Narrator, The Rocky Horror Picture Show
"It's just a jump to the left... and a step to the right."
Source: The Timewarp | Speaker: Narrator, The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Jerome
"Jerome's in the house! Watch your mouth!"
Source: Martin | Speaker: Jerome
Various Saturday Night Live Cast Members
"Live from New York; it's Saturday Night!"
Source: Saturday Night Live | Speaker: Various Saturday Night Live Cast Members
Tim Gunn
"Make it work."
Source: Project Runway | Speaker: Tim Gunn
The Bruce Dickinson
"More cowbell."
Source: Saturday Night Live | Speaker: The Bruce Dickinson
Marcel Marceau
"Non!"
Source: Silent Movie | Speaker: Marcel Marceau
Jack Skellington
"Oh, there's an empty place in my bones that calls out for something unknown."
Source: Jack's Lament | Speaker: Jack Skellington
Prince Otto von Bismarck
"Politics is the art of the possible."
Source: St. Petersburgische Zeitung | Author: Prince Otto von Bismarck
John Fogerty
"Rollin' on the river"
Source: "Proud Mary" | Speaker: John Fogerty
Taylor Swift
"Shake it off."
Source: Shake It Off | Speaker: Taylor Swift
Cher
"She's a full-on Monet."
Source: Clueless | Speaker: Cher
Elton John
"So, goodbye, yellow brick road."
Source: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" | Speaker: Elton John
The Beatles
"Someday monkey won't play piano song, play piano song."
Source: "Michelle" | Speaker: The Beatles
Terry Randall
"The calla lilies are in bloom again."
Source: Stage Door | Speaker: Terry Randall
Emperor Joseph II
"There are simply too many notes."
Source: Amadeus | Speaker: Emperor Joseph II
ABBA
"There was something in the air that night, the stars were bright, Fernando."
Source: Fernando | Speaker: ABBA
Nigel Tufnel
"These go to 11."
Source: This Is Spinal Tap | Speaker: Nigel Tufnel
Michelle Flaherty
"This one time, at band camp…"
Source: American Pie | Speaker: Michelle Flaherty
Fred the Baker
"Time to make the donuts."
Source: Dunkin' Donuts commercial | Speaker: Fred the Baker
The B-52's
"Tin roof...rusted!"
Source: Love Shack | Speaker: The B-52's
Troy Barnes and Abed Nadir
"Troy and Abed in the morning!"
Source: Community | Speaker: Troy Barnes and Abed Nadir
Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert
"Two thumbs up."
Source: Siskel & Ebert & the Movies | Speaker: Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert
Every Famous Singer Ever
"We are the world."
Source: We Are the World | Speaker: Every Famous Singer Ever
Elwood Blues
"We're on a mission from God."
Source: The Blues Brothers | Speaker: Elwood Blues
Heart
"What about love?"
Source: "What About Love" | Speaker: Heart
C.D. Bales
"When you're reaching for a star, there's a long way to fall."
Source: Roxanne | Speaker: C.D. Bales
Joan Rivers
"Who are you wearing?"
Source: Joan Rivers, on the red carpet | Speaker: Joan Rivers
Elton John
"You know I read it in a magazine, oh-oh."
Source: Bennie and the Jets | Speaker: Elton John
Shakira
"You know my hips don't lie."
Source: Hips Don't Lie | Speaker: Shakira
Pat Benatar
"You're a heartbreaker."
Source: Heartbreaker | Speaker: Pat Benatar