Who said “To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only…”?

Verified

Paul Klee. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceDiary entry (March 1906), # 759, in The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918; University of California Press, 1968

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“To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers.”
— Paul Klee
VerifiedDiary entry (March 1906), # 759, in The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918; University of California Press, 1968 · evidenceBeauty
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Diary entry (March 1906), # 759, in The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918; University of California Press, 1968.

APA

Klee, P. (n.d.). To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7762-to-emphasize-only-the-beautiful-seems-to-me/

MLA

Klee, Paul. “To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7762-to-emphasize-only-the-beautiful-seems-to-me/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Klee, Paul. “To emphasize only the beautiful seems to me to be like a mathematical system that only concerns itself with positive numbers.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7762-to-emphasize-only-the-beautiful-seems-to-me/.

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More quotes by Paul Klee

“Nature is garrulous to the point of confusion, let the artist be truly taciturn.”
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“When looking at any significant work of art, remember that a more significant one probably has had to be sacrificed.”
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“The art of mastering life is the prerequisite for all further forms of expression, whether they are paintings, sculptures, tragedies, or musical compositions.”
VerifiedDiary entry (3 June 1902), # 411, in The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918; University of California Press, 1968 · evidenceDetails & citeLife and Living
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“Everything vanishes around me, and works are born as if out of the void. Ripe, graphic fruits fall off. My hand has become the obedient instrument of a remote will.”
VerifiedDiary entry (January/February 1918), # 1104, The Diaries of Paul Klee, 1898-1918 (p. 387) · evidenceDetails & citeCreativity
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“In the final analysis, a drawing simply is no longer a drawing, no matter how self-sufficient its execution may be. It is a symbol, and the more profoundly the imaginary lines of projection meet higher dimensions, the better.”
VerifiedQuote (July 1905); from: Diari 1898-1918, 2012 (citato), paragrafo 660; as quoted by Francesco Mazzaferro, in 'The Diaries of Paul Klee Part Three', : 'Klee as a Secessionist and a Neo-Impressionist Artist' · evidenceDetails & citeDrawing
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“One eye sees, the other feels.”
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