Home / Quotes / Quote by Semir Zeki

Quote by Semir Zeki

“Any artistic achievement that is tailored to conform to social demands rather than to the real, uninhibited, feelings of its creator, is destined not to reach the heights of achievement, or even fail. It is only when an artist is dis-inhibited that he or she can reach the heights of artistic achievement.”

Quote by Semir Zeki

Author

Semir Zeki is a renowned neuroscientist and educator, born in 1940. His research in the field of neuroscience has had a profound impact on understanding the processes of human vision and cognition. more

You May Also Like

“Just let the artist sign an empty canvas or a frame, with the inscription, 'I had such and such a concept in mind' for this work. The artist then need not bother with producing the work, and therefore need not be worried about being dis-satisfied. All he or she needs to do is to sell it to a collector. The collector will have the guarantee that the artist thought about the work, even if momentarily, and therefore be satisfied.”

Ifs Needs Mind Artist Concepts Empty Sells Satisfied Worried Bother Guarantees Canvas Collectors Guarantees That Inscriptions Empty Canvas

Author:Semir Zeki

“Apparently, a cleaner at Tate Britain... threw out a bag of rubbish, accidentally we are told, that was part of an exhibition supposedly emphasizing 'the finite existence of art'... The cleaner evidently had no time to question the relationship of his or her being to the rubbish bag, and reached the right conclusion.”

Art Existence Conclusion Britain Bags Finite Rubbish Cleaners Exhibitions Contemporary Art

Author:Semir Zeki

“Self-censorship, whether known or unknown, is an unwelcome brake on creativity; it stifles self-expression and hence prevents a work from reaching the heights of great art.”

Art Self Known Creativity Expression Height Reaching Censorship Great Art Self Expression Brake Unwelcome Self Censorship

Author:Semir Zeki

“Perhaps there is a minimum distance that should separate one exhibit from another... Indeed those specialized in psychophysics have actually come up with some rules.”

Should Distance Come Up Minimum Exhibits Exhibitions

Author:Semir Zeki

“The female brain may confer distinctive economic advantages, to the benefit of all, and we should, therefore, pursue seriously having equal numbers of women in topic economic and financial posts. If we persist in having unequal numbers, then we should advantage the women and have a smaller percentage of men.”

Ifs Men Should May Numbers Brain Economic Equal Benefits Advantage Female Financial Pursue Posts Persist Topics Percentages Distinctive

Author:Semir Zeki

“Laughter is very infectious, and why it should be so is a most interesting neurological problem. But it also has other, more physiological, benefits. Apparently it boosts the immune system, reduces stress hormones, massages the heart and diaphragm and engenders a 'feel good' factor.”

Feels Should Heart Problem Interesting Humour Benefits Laughter Stress Feel Good Factors Most Interesting Immune Hormones Boost Massage Immune System Physiological Reduce Stress

Author:Semir Zeki

“The Japanese, if I understand them, are masters of the unsaid and the unstated, of subtlety and ambiguity, all of which constitute powerful stimulants to the imagination.”

Ifs Imagination Powerful Masters Ambiguity Subtlety Unsaid Stimulants

Author:Semir Zeki

“I have the strong suspicion that when the brain's greed system is in operation, those parts of the brain that regulate ethical conduct are de-activated. Perhaps the greater the amount of money to be made, the greater the deactivation of the system that regulates ethical behaviour.”

Made Strong Brain Greater Amount Greed Operations Ethical Suspicion Behaviour

Author:Semir Zeki

“In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.”

Ends Fighting Morality Biology

Author:Semir Zeki

“I always expect the worst from this evil and wicked world and am often pleasantly surprised when the worst does not come to pass, but never or rarely surprised or upset when it does.”

World Doe Evil Worst Optimism Upset Wicked Wicked World

Author:Semir Zeki