"I am a night painter, so when I come into the studio the next morning the delirium is over."

Life

Create & Download Quote Graphic

Customize Image

1. Canvas Aspect Ratio

2. Palette Theme

Thematic Reflection

This quotation examines the core nature of Life as articulated by Philip Guston. Within historical and literary traditions, reflections on Life provide actionable mental models, challenging individuals to evaluate personal ethics, self-discipline, and daily actions.

Explore all Life quotes → Browse all wisdom by Philip Guston →

About Philip Guston

Philip Guston was a Canadian and American painter, printmaker, muralist and draftsman. "Guston worked in a number of artistic modes, from Renaissance-inspired figuration to formally accomplished abstraction," and is now regarded as one of the "most important, powerful, and influential American painters of the last 100 years". He frequently depicted racism, antisemitism, fascism and American identity, as well as—especially in his later most cartoonish and mocking work—the banality of evil. In 2013, Guston's painting To Fellini set an auction record at Christie's when it sold for US$25.8 million.

View all quotes by Philip Guston →
Editorial Integrity: Curated and fact-checked under our Editorial Standards to eliminate misattributions and preserve historical authenticity.
Learn about our methodology →

More by Philip Guston

"Painting and sculpture are very archaic forms. It's the only thing left in our industrial society where an individual alone can make something with not just his own hands, but brains, imagination, heart maybe."

— Philip Guston
Read more →

More about Life

"Men's arguments often prove nothing but their wishes."

— Charles Caleb Colton
Read more →

"Wisdom principle 14 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 50."

— Nevada Barr
Read more →

"Duty largely consists of pretending that the trivial is critical."

— John Fowles
Read more →

"I really liked working with Sean Paul; he is a very attractive guy, very hot. He was fun; the chemistry was really great, it was great to be in the moment."

— Blu Cantrell
Read more →
Browse all Life quotes →