Ten Favorite Movie Quotes about Creativity & the Arts

This isn’t your typical Adventures in Faith and Art blog. I’ve been collecting movie quotes for awhile now just for fun, and I thought I would share a few that are themed around the issues of creativity, music, the arts, and artists. In general, I’d recommend all of these movies to you, if you hadn’t seen them yet (please be mindful of the ratings). Some of these border on the profound, and some are just fun. And if you have a movie quote you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it.

John Keating: “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute.  We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race.  And the human race is filled with passion.  And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life.  But poetry, beauty, romance, love—these are what we stay alive for.”

“Dead Poets Society” (1989)

Remy: “I know I’m supposed to hate humans, but there’s something about them. They don’t just survive.  They discover, they create! Just look at what they do with food!”

“Ratatouille” (2007)

Norman: “My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things—trout as well as eternal salvation—came from grace. And grace comes by art.  And art does not come easily.”

“A River Runs Through It” (1992)

Sam Phillips [To Johnny Cash]:  “If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing one song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you’re dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin’ me that’s the song you’d sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it’s real, and how you’re gonna shout it? Or would you sing somethin’ different. Somethin’ real. Somethin’ you felt. Cause I’m telling you right now, that’s the kind of song people want to hear. That’s the kind of song that truly saves people.”

“Walk the Line” (2005)

Raphael [To the great Michaelangelo]: You’ll always be an artist. You have no choice.”

“The Agony and the Ecstasy” (1965)

Shug: “More than anything God love admiration.”
Celie: “You saying God is vain?”
Shug:  “No, not vain, just wanting to share a good thing.  I think it p***es God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don’t notice it.”

“The Color Purple” (1985)

John Newton: “I once was blind, but now I see.” Didn’t I write that?
William Wilberforce: “Yes, you did.”
John Newton: “Now at last, it’s true.”

“Amazing Grace” (2006)

Willy Wonka: “Invention, my dear friends, is 93 percent perspiration, 6 percent electricity, 4 percent evaporation, and 2 percent butterscotch ripple.”

“Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” (1971)

Dell Paxton: “Ain’t no way to keep a band together. Bands come and go. You got to keep on playing, no matter with who.”

“That Thing You Do” (1996)

Susan [about Lucy]: “She thinks she’s found a magical land in the upstairs wardrobe.”
Professor Kirke: “What did you say?”
Peter: “The wardrobe. Upstairs. Lucy thinks she’s found a forest inside.”
Susan: “She won’t stop going on about it.”
Professor Kirke: “What was it like?”
Susan: “Like talking to a lunatic.”
Professor Kirke: “No, no, no. Not her, the forest!”
Susan [stares]: “You’re not saying you believe her?”
Professor Kirke: “You don’t?”
Susan: “But of course not. I mean, logically it’s impossible. ”
Professor Kirke: “What do they teach in schools these days?”

“The Chronicles of Narnia” (2005)

BONUS QUOTE:

Jamal Wallace (to William Forrester): “Be sure to write.”

“Finding Forrester” (2000)

If you liked this blog, you might consider checking out “Most Quoted Movie Scenes by Musicians.”