“If art, all art, is concerned with truth, then a society in denial will not find much in use for it.”

“My concern is never art, but always what art can be used for.”

Gerhard Richter (1932) German visual artist, born 1932

“What is art but the denial of life?”

Fernando Pessoa book The Book of Disquiet

“Well, art is reality, art is a muse if it helps us to realise the truth. It is the major guiding element which helps you to realise the truth.”

S. H. Raza (1922–2016) Indian artist

“Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.”

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer

“I would say that my aims of writing this book are less concerned with the facts of history than with the truth of art.”

Vernon Scannell (1922–2007) British boxer and poet

“Telling the truth is the basis of all classic art.”

Margery Allingham (1904–1966) English writer of detective fiction

“A general definition of civilization: a civilized society is exhibiting the five qualities of truth, beauty, adventure, art, peace.”

Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English mathematician and philosopher

“In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. And unless it wants to break faith with its social function, art must show the world as changeable. And help to change it.”

Ernst Fischer (1899–1972) Austrian literature historian, publicist and writer

“I believe that nature and art can express one of the fundamental mysterious truths of life, equal to all of us.”

Giovanni Morassutti (1980) Italian actor, theatre director and cultural entrepreneur.