The World According to: Five Life Lessons from Inspiring Figures

The start of a new year offers a natural point in time to reflect. It’s often the moment where a carefully chosen quote can offer wisdom, clarity or even simply a reminder of the shared complexities of life. Our series The World According To… presents witty, inspiring and at times philosophical quotes from such cultural figures as David Hockney, Coco Chanel and more, capturing their unique views on life and the world around them.

To give you a taster of this pocket-sized series, we’ve selected five inspirational maxims that offer a glimpse into the wisdom of some of the greatest artists of our time.

‘For a glorious sunrise you need clouds, don’t you?’ David Hockney

David Hockney is the most popular British artist of our time, known for his uniquely colourful style of painting. He grew up in Bradford and attended art school in London before moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s where he became enthralled by the vibrant colours and energized lifestyle that surrounded him.

His distinct use of vivid colour, curious perspectives and particular subject matter contribute to his instantly recognizable style. But beyond his much-loved art, Hockney is well-known for his unique and profound outlook on life. As Martin Gayford says in his introduction to The World According to David Hockney, Hockney has ‘an inbuilt sense not only of how to follow his own path as a maker of pictures, but also how to live his life.’

‘Success is sometimes the outcome of a whole string of failures.’ Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh’s letters have long been prized as some of the most valuable documents in the world of art. Not only do they throw light on Van Gogh’s own complex and intriguing character, they enlighten the whole creative process as seen through his eyes. Over 800 of his personal letters survive, most written to his favourite brother, Theo.

These letters continue to be a source of inspiration to many, and for good reason. ‘Vincent was first and foremost a brilliant observer,’ writes Esther Darley, in the introduction to The World According to Vincent van Gogh. She continues: ‘We can feel sad about the unfortunate end to Vincent’s life while still being energized by his euphoric thoughts […] so it is that his letters generate a new meaning for everyone, differently each time.’

‘What is on the inside is often more important than what the eye can see.’ Christian Dior

When Christian Dior burst onto the scene in February 1947 with his ‘New Look’, he was largely unknown to the public. His early life was spent rubbing shoulders with the young Bohemians of Paris, opening an art gallery and working various jobs, before becoming a designer at Robert Piguet.

Dior became a fashion icon overnight in 1947, bewitching the public’s imagination even beyond his early death in 1957. As Patrick Mauriès writes in The World According to Christian Dior, ‘a nostalgic and a dreamer, he was able to capture the spirit of an era and make an unquestionable mark on history, yet without compromising his lifelong vision and aesthetics.’

‘When times are hard, fantasy and escapism are crucial.’ Lee McQueen

Lee Alexander McQueen had secured an immutable place in the fashion firmament at the time of his tragic death in 2010 at the age of just 40. The son of a teacher and a taxi driver, McQueen grew up in East London, before leaving school at 16 to become a tailor’s apprentice on Mayfair’s Savile Row. Not only did he start his own label after graduating from the MA fashion course at Central Saint Martins, but he also took on the role of Creative Director at Givenchy from 1996 to 2001.

‘McQueen was a maverick storyteller with an idiosyncratic point of view,’ writes Louise Ritter, in her foreword to The World According to Lee McQueen. ‘He saw fashion as a weapon to empower women and a catalyst for questioning our perception of beauty.’

‘It’s the little things that are important in life, not the big things.’ Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel is the twentieth century’s most celebrated, yet enigmatic, fashion icon. Her legendary status across the world continues to captivate fashion fans.

Raised by nuns in an orphanage, she went on to redefine fashion for women, stripping them of their corsets and putting them into trousers and, of course, the little black dress. Her perfume – Chanel No. 5 – was one of the first couture perfumes ever created and remains one of the world’s most popular scents. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Picasso, Stravinsky, Cocteau and more, Chanel’s life and accomplishments offer a fascinating story ripe for inspiration.

Browse our series The World According To…