David Rockefeller

MoMA is doubling its space, and I decided to raise the money for it.

Much corporate giving is charitable in nature rather than philanthropic.

I do not like to be unkind.

I owe much to mother. She had an expert’s understanding, but also approached art emotionally.

You know, gentlemen, that I do not owe any personal income tax. But nevertheless, I send a small check, now and then, to the Internal Revenue Service out of the kindness of my heart.

By a museum, I assume you mean an institution dedicated to the events of Sept. 11 and the aftermath. If that is done with sensitivity, I think it would be most appropriate.

The essence of all Art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.

Bad artists imitate, great artists steal.

From my point of view, which is that of a storyteller, I see your life as already artful, waiting, just waiting and ready for you to make it art.

Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realised that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity. Surrealism to me is reality.

All art inspires me. Life inspires me. The art of life, thus my own art.

Everybody has that feeling when they look at a work of art and it’s right, that sudden familiarity, a sort of…recognition, as though they were creating it themselves, as though it were being created through them while they look at it or listen to it.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

Art is self expression. If you are expressing someone else’s personality, that is not art.

We’ll buy some drugs and watch a band and jump in a river holding hands.

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.

If you believe in your art and you love what you do, that energy will go out and people will respond.

The truth is of course is that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.

They decided to establish a museum of modern art where works by contemporary artists would be shown. Mother was viewed as a very progressive person, and not everybody liked the paintings she bought.

Art is constant tension and release. That is where artists live, between the two or at times, submerged in either.

I’ve always felt that a lot of modern art is a con, and that the most successful painters are often better salesmen and promoters than they are artists.