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Diane Arbus Quotes

Powerful Diane Arbus for Daily Growth

About Diane Arbus

Diane Arbus (1923-1971) was an influential American photographer renowned for her provocative black-and-white portraits that explored the human condition's emotional depth and social peculiarities. Born in New York City on March 14, 1923, to well-to-do parents, she grew up amidst privilege but felt alienated from her sheltered environment. Arbus's interest in photography began during a post-college trip to Europe, where she discovered the work of renowned photographers such as August Sander and Henri Cartier-Bresson, whose humanistic and documentary styles would significantly influence her later works. Upon returning to New York, Arbus became involved with the fashion industry but soon grew disillusioned by its superficiality, eventually leaving it behind in 1956 to focus on street photography full-time. Throughout the 1960s, Arbus captured images of marginalized individuals and subcultures that were often overlooked or stigmatized by society. Her groundbreaking works included portraits of circus performers, transgender individuals, nudists, and people with mental illnesses, among others. Despite the controversy surrounding her subjects, Arbus approached each photograph with empathy and sensitivity, capturing her subjects' vulnerabilities and humanity with stark authenticity. In 1972, a year after Arbus's suicide, her work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, cementing her legacy as one of the most significant photographers of the twentieth century. Her influential monograph "Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph" was published posthumously, containing over 80 photographs that continue to inspire and provoke thought about societal norms and individual identity. Today, Diane Arbus's work remains a powerful testament to the complexities and beauty of human nature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"A different world cannot be born of the same consciousness as created the world."

This quote suggests that significant change or transformation cannot occur from the same limited perspective, thoughts, or actions that led to the current state of affairs. To birth a new, distinct world, we must shift our consciousness, expand our understanding, and challenge established ways of thinking and acting.

"I think I am probably more interested in people than animals."

Diane Arbus, a renowned American photographer, expressed her fascination with humans over animals through this quote. She implies that she finds people's complexity, diversity, and the intricacies of human nature to be captivating. Her keen interest in people led her to take striking and thought-provoking photographs that explored the fringes of society and humanity itself.

"To me (a photograph) is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know."

This quote suggests that a photograph, in its essence, is not just a surface representation of reality; rather, it contains deeper, hidden meanings that reveal themselves upon closer examination. As one learns more about a photo, it paradoxically becomes more mysterious, as the viewer realizes there are still unexplored layers to uncover beneath the image's veneer. In other words, the more we understand a photograph, the less we truly know about its underlying truths and complexities.

"There are different kinds of spaces in a photograph - one kind when there's no-one in them, and another when the people are in them."

Diane Arbus' quote highlights the dual nature of space within a photograph: empty and occupied. An empty space can evoke feelings of isolation, mystery, or tranquility, while a space filled with people can convey a sense of community, interaction, or chaos. This distinction emphasizes that photography is not just about capturing physical space but also emotional and psychological spaces that the subjects inhabit.

"I am really looking for the things I never knew I was looking for."

This quote suggests that Diane Arbus, a renowned American photographer, was on a continuous journey of self-discovery, seeking out experiences and subjects that lay beyond her initial expectations or understanding. It implies a sense of curiosity and openness to the unexpected, as she was continually surprised by the things she encountered in her life and work. Essentially, Arbus's quote underscores the importance of remaining receptive and inquisitive, allowing for personal growth and enrichment through new experiences and perspectives.

Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats.

- Diane Arbus

Through, Test, Trauma, Traumatic

I work from awkwardness. By that I mean I don't like to arrange things. If I stand in front of something, instead of arranging it, I arrange myself.

- Diane Arbus

Work, Like, Awkwardness, Arranging

Love involves a peculiar unfathomable combination of understanding and misunderstanding.

- Diane Arbus

Love, Involves, Peculiar

I always thought of photography as a naughty thing to do - that was one of my favorite things about it, and when I first did it, I felt very perverse.

- Diane Arbus

Thought, Always, Very, Favorite Things

You see someone on the street, and essentially what you notice about them is the flaw.

- Diane Arbus

See, Someone, Flaw, Notice

Men are but children of a larger growth, Our appetites as apt to change as theirs, And full as craving too, and full as vain.

- Diane Arbus

Craving, Larger, Apt, Appetites

The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of the mind.

- Diane Arbus

Mind, World, Edge, Contemplation

Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.

- Diane Arbus

Behind, Give, Always, Regardless

When you grow up your mother says, 'Wear rubbers or you'll catch cold.' When you become an adult you discover that you have the right not to wear rubbers and to see if you catch cold or not. It's something like that.

- Diane Arbus

Grow, Discover, Like, Catch

My favorite thing is to go where I've never been.

- Diane Arbus

Never, Go, Been, Favorite Thing

I never have taken a picture I've intended. They're always better or worse.

- Diane Arbus

Never, Better, Always, Picture

A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.

- Diane Arbus

More, About, Tells, Photograph

I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn't photograph them.

- Diane Arbus

Art, See, Would, Photograph

My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.

- Diane Arbus

Never, Go, Been, Favourite

The thing that's important to know is that you never know. You're always sort of feeling your way.

- Diane Arbus

Important, Never, Always, Sort

The more specific you are, the more general it'll be.

- Diane Arbus

You, More, General, Specific

Nothing is ever the same as they said it was.

- Diane Arbus

Nothing, Same, Ever, Said

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