Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director, active since the 1990s. His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. Profoundly inspirational Banksy quotes will challenge the way you think, change the way you live and transform your whole life.
If you’re searching for famous art quotes that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of profound Pablo Picasso quotes, amazing Salvador Dali quotes and top Bob Ross quotes.
Famous Banksy Quotes
When graffiti first started it was about getting noticed. Now you have to be a genuine nuisance if you want to get along. Banksy
The art world is the biggest joke going. It’s a rest home for the overprivileged, the pretentious, and the weak. And modern art is a disgrace never have so many people used so much stuff and taken so long to say so little. Banksy
People who enjoy waving flags don’t deserve to have one. Banksy
The people who run our cities don’t understand graffiti because they think nothing has the right to exist unless it makes a profit Banksy
Remember crime against property is not real crime. Banksy
Should graffiti be judged on the same level as modern art? Of course not: It’s way more important than that. Banksy
The problem with painting in zoos is that it’s slightly too effective. They tend to get rid of it as soon as possible. Banksy
If you want someone to be ignored then build a life size bronze statue of them and stick it in the middle of town. It doesn’t matter how great you were, it’ll always take an unfunny drunk with climbing skills to make people notice you. Banksy
Why would someone just paint pictures of a revolutionary when you could actually behave like one instead? Banksy
The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal. Banksy
Only a few hundred people in the world have any real say Banksy
I wouldn’t want to be remembered as the guy who contaminated a perfectly legitimate form of protest art with money and celebrities. Banksy
Some mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves. Banksy
It’s a very frustrated feeling you get when the only people with good photos of your work are the police department. Banksy
The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules. It’s people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages. Banksy
Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. Banksy
Graffiti has been used to start revolutions, stop wars, and generally is the voice of people who aren’t listened to. Banksy
All artists are willing to suffer for their work. But why are so few prepared to learn to draw? Banksy
As a precaution to ever committing major acts of evil it is our solemn duty never to do what we’re told, this is the only way we can be sure. Banksy
Modern art is a disaster area. Banksy
Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it’s probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re decorate it. Banksy
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. Banksy
I’ll meet you in that pub, you know, the one opposite that wall with a picture of a monkey holding a chainsaw’. I mean, how much more useful can a painting be than that? Banksy
A wall is a very big weapon. It’s one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with. Banksy
We the people affect the making and quality of most of our culture, but not our art. Banksy
Bus stops are far more interesting and useful places to have art than in museums. Banksy
I don’t believe in anything. I’m just here for the violence. Banksy
Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better looking place. Banksy
Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s okay. Banksy
Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colors and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall it’s wet. Banksy
I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time. Banksy
People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish but that’s only if it’s done properly. Banks
Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable. Banksy
You don’t need planning permission to build castles in the sky. Banksy
People either love me or they hate me, or they don’t really care. Banksy
I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time. Banksy
If it doesn’t matter, get rid of it. If you can’t get rid of it, it matters. Banksy
Your mind is working at its best when you’re being paranoid. You explore every avenue and possibility of your situation at high speed with total clarity. Banksy
Workers of the world unite. Banksy
I need someone to protect me from all the measures they take in order to protect me. Banksy
Graffiti’s always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off. Banksy
It doesn’t take much to be a successful artist all you need to do is dedicate your entire life to it. Banksy
Winners are not those who never fail but those who never quit! Banksy
Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint. Banksy
I just wanna make the world a better looking place. Banksy
Live as a villain, die as a hero. Banksy
Keep your coins, I want change. Banksy
A lot of mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves. Banksy
One original thought is worth 1000 meaningless quotes. Banksy
Become good at cheating and you never need to become good at anything else. Banksy
Some people represent authority without ever possessing any of their own. Banksy
At this time of year, it’s easy to forget the true meaning of Christianity the lies, the corruption, the abuse. Banksy
The bad artists imitate, the great artists steal. Banksy
I’ve never really understood why people sleep. Wasting a third of your life and becoming vulnerable for almost 8 hours every night. Doesn’t seem very appealing to me. Banksy
You don’t need planning permission to build castles in the sky. Banksy
You live in the city and all the time there are signs telling you what to do and billboards trying to sell you something. Banksy
I originally set out to try and save the world, but now I’m not sure I like it enough. Banksy
We can’t do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves. Banksy
If you don’t like it, you can paint over it! Banksy
You owe the companies nothing. You especially don’t owe them any courtesy. They have re arranged the world to put themselves in front of you. They never asked for your permission, don’t even start asking for theirs. Banksy
It doesn’t take much to be a successful artist. All you need to do is dedicate your entire life to it. Banksy
Brandalism Any advertisement in public space that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It’s yours to take, rearrange and re use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head. Banksy
Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint. Banksy
The Art we look at is made by only a select few. A small group create, promote, purchase, exhibit and decide the success of Art. Only a few hundred people in the world have any real say. When you go to an Art gallery you are simply a tourist looking at the trophy cabinet of a few millionaires. Banksy
In the future, everybody will be anonymous for 15 minutes. Banksy
I originally set out to try and save the world, but now I’m not sure I like it enough. Banksy
Modern art is a disaster area. Never in the field of human history has so much been used by so many to say so little. Banksy
Film is incredibly democratic and accessible, it’s probably the best option if you actually want to change the world, not just re decorate it. Banksy
Stencils have been used to start revolutions and to stop wars. Banksy
I like to think I have the guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy and call for things no one else believes in like peace and justice and freedom. Banksy
Blank walls are criminal. Banksy
People either love me or they hate me, or they don’t really care. Banksy
If at first you don’t succeed, call an airstrike. Banksy
People who get up early in the morning cause war, death and famine. Banksy
Nobody knows what you feel inside unless you tell them. Banksy
Nothing in the world is more common than unsuccessful people with talent, leave the house before you find something worth staying in for. Banksy
