George Bernard Shaw on Art

"farther to the Left in his political opinions than any of his socialist rivals."

"Vulgarity is a necessary part of a complete author's equipment; and the clown is sometimes the best part of the circus."

"There are some men who are considered quite ugly, but who are more remarkable than pretty people. You often see that in artists."

"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."

"I am a communist, but not a member of the Communist Party. Stalin is a first rate Fabian. I am one of the founders of Fabianism and as such very friendly to Russia."

"Martyrdom, sir, is what these people like: it is the only way in which a man can become famous without ability."

"As a red hot Communist I am in favour of fascism. The only drawback to Sir Oswald's movement is that it is not quite British enough."

"Composers are not human; They can live on diminished sevenths, and be contented with a pianoforte for a wife, and a string quartet for a family."

"Riches and Art are spurious receipts for the production of Happiness and Beauty."

"My way hither was the way of destiny; for I am he of whose genius you are the symbol: part brute, part woman, and part God — nothing of man in me at all. Have I read your riddle, Sphinx?"

"Some of the things Mussolini has done, and some that he is threatening to do go further in the direction of Socialism than the English Labour Party could yet venture if they were in power."

"All great art and literature is propaganda."