Elia Kazan Quotes

In all the writers I admire, the common detonator is their courage to walk naked.

Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

All good art is an indiscretion.

I write about things and put things into my albums that I don't talk to people about. I don't hold back or sugarcoat anything.

The people I'm inspired by and I listen to are all ballsy, and I feel like I'm closer to an artist when they're open and honest.

I shall stick to my resolution of writing always what I think no matter whom it offends.

I'm always looking for something that's real and that's got meat on it. I think it's artistic suicide if you're too vain, or if you're afraid to play ugly. I would never fall for that.

Songwriting is the most terrifying thing to me, because you are really laying your heart out there.

The art of life is to show your hand.

Expressing truth is hard work.

If you have what you want to say inside, and if you are crying for something that is true inside, it doesn't matter. The camera always sees it.

There are two ways to worry words. One is hoping for the greatest possible beauty in what is created. The other is to tell the truth.

America needs some honest men who dare to say what they think, not what they think people want them to think.

I'm giving all that I have in this life. I'm opening up my notebook, and I'm saying everything in there out loud.

Sometimes, it's hard holding back the truth, how you really feel, and sometimes the best way is let it out and move forward.

From a place of truth, I think artists or actors have to be real with what they're doing.

Please understand that I make music to express myself, and if you know anything about me, you know that I'm nothing but honest.

Any real piece of writing is an act of courage.

I want to be remembered as an artist that gave you a piece of me, as opposed to some surface bullshit. I just want to be remembered as a poet that was open and honest because I wake up every morning and I'm me.

To be an artist, one must . . . never shirk from the truth as he understands it, never withdraw from life

I just do my thing and try each show to be more honest about why I am and who I am. It's quite tricky and actually nerve-racking to do that. It's kind of a happy train wreck.

Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.

The thing is, is to raise your hand. It's not to hide, and it's not to try and pretend or do anything like that. You raise your hand, that's the best thing about it.

I am quite certain in my heart of hearts that modern music and modern art is not a conspiracy, but is a form of truth and integrity for those who practise it honestly, decently and with all their being.

It's become my brand in a way, you know, speaking the truth even though it was not politically correct.