Famous Quotes

"I was taught to confront things you can't avoid. Death is one of those things. To live in a society where you're trying not to look at it is stupid because looking at death throws us back into life with more vigour and energy. The fact that flowers don't last for ever makes them beautiful."

Damien Hirst on Death

More quotes about Death

• "A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."

  Martin Luther King, Jr. on Death

• "To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent."

  Buddha on Death

• "The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."

  Albert Einstein on Death

• "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."

  Mark Twain on Death

• "Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see."

  Helen Keller on Death

More quotes by Damien Hirst

• "In an artwork you're always looking for artistic decisions, so an ashtray is perfect. An ashtray has got life and death."

• "I always feel like the art's there and I just see it, so it's not really a lot of work."

• "I have always been aware that you have to get people listening before you can change their minds. Any artist's big fear is being ignored, so if you get debate, that's great."

• "But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are limitless, you're inventing the future. Then you get older and suddenly you have a history. It's fixed. You can't change anything. I find that a bit disturbing, to be honest."

• "In an artwork you're always looking for artistic decisions, so an ashtray is perfect. An ashtray has got life and death."