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

Quote by Damien Hirst

Topics: Damien Hirst Quotes

Most people live in the city and go to the country at the weekend, and...

Most people live in the city and go to the country at the weekend, and...

Immortality is really desirable, I guess. In terms of images, anyway.

Immortality is really desirable, I guess. In terms of images, anyway.

But I'm more interested in why people are frightened by Jaws and why Jaws was...

But I'm more interested in why people are frightened by Jaws and why Jaws was...

It's such a crass idea - you're either in love or out of love.

It's such a crass idea - you're either in love or out of love.

I made one untitled piece.

I made one untitled piece.

But the answer to how to live is to stop thinking about it. And just...

But the answer to how to live is to stop thinking about it. And just...

It's good to have a title that's not just one word. If you're gonna title...

It's good to have a title that's not just one word. If you're gonna title...

It'd be nice to make lots of money but it's quite difficult, because every time...

It'd be nice to make lots of money but it's quite difficult, because every time...

I think an ashtray is the most fantastically real thing.

I think an ashtray is the most fantastically real thing.

The goal in life is to be solid, whereas the way that life works is...

The goal in life is to be solid, whereas the way that life works is...

Sometimes when you're drunk you can see better.

Sometimes when you're drunk you can see better.

I think suicide is the most perfect thing you can do in life.

I think suicide is the most perfect thing you can do in life.

I always ignore money.

I always ignore money.

So smoking is the perfect way to commit suicide without actually dying. I smoke because...

So smoking is the perfect way to commit suicide without actually dying. I smoke because...

Artists are like everybody else.

Artists are like everybody else.

My Mum brought me up to believe that if you look after the pennies then...

My Mum brought me up to believe that if you look after the pennies then...

There's no possible way you can get what you want.

There's no possible way you can get what you want.

A lot of people thought I wasn't doing anything because I was spending a lot...

A lot of people thought I wasn't doing anything because I was spending a lot...

But whenever I look at the question of how to live, the answer's always staring...

But whenever I look at the question of how to live, the answer's always staring...

I always feel like the art's there and I just see it, so it's not...

I always feel like the art's there and I just see it, so it's not...