Jenny Holzer is a conceptual artist whose work is mainly one line statements, presented in public forums on billboards or marquees and in gallery installations on benches or headstones.

Holzer began writing these in the late 1970s and early 1980s. When she began writing them in 1977 she was a student. She would type the phrases on paper and post them anonymously around New York City.

Projects like this can sometimes come off as too easy, too self-conscious, but I like Holzer's. It's laughable and thoughtful at the same time.

Truisms 1979-1983

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE GOES A LONG WAY
A RELAXED MAN IS NOT NECESSARILY A BETTER MAN
A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY IMPRISONS YOU
ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION CAN BE A FORM OF FREEDOM
ABUSE OF POWER COMES AS NO SURPRISE
ANY SURPLUS IS IMMORAL
BEING SURE OF YOURSELF MEANS YOU'RE A FOOL
CHILDREN ARE THE CRUELEST OF ALL
CHILDREN ARE THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE
DISGUST IS THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO MOST SITUATIONS
DYING SHOULD BE EASY AS FALLING OFF A LOG
EATING TOO MUCH IS CRIMINAL
FREEDOM IS A LUXURY NOT A NECESSITY
GOVERNMENT IS A BURDEN ON THE PEOPLE
IF YOU LIVE SIMPLY THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT
JUST BELIEVING SOMETHING CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN
LOOKING BACK IS THE FIRST SIGN OF AGING AND DECAY
LOW EXPECTATIONS ARE GOOD PROTECTION
MONEY CREATES TASTE
MORALS ARE FOR LITTLE PEOPLE
MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FIT TO RULE THEMSELVES
PEOPLE ARE BORING UNLESS THEY ARE EXTREMISTS
PEOPLE WHO DON'T WORK WITH THEIR HANDS ARE PARASITES
PEOPLE WON'T BEHAVE IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE
RAISE BOYS AND GIRLS THE SAME WAY
SELFISHNESS IS THE MOST BASIC MOTIVATION
SIN IS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL
SLIPPING INTO MADNESS IS GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON
STUPID PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BREED
THE IDEA OF REVOLUTION IS AN ADOLESCENT FANTASY
THE IDEA OF TRANSCENDENCE IS USED TO OBSCURE OPPRESSION
THE LAND BELONGS TO NO ONE
THE MORE YOU KNOW THE BETTER YOU ARE
THE MOST PROFOUND THINGS ARE INEXPRESSIBLE
THERE'S A FINE LINE BETWEEN INFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA
WORDS TEND TO BE INADEQUATE
YOU CAN NEVER OUTRUN YOURSELF
YOU GET THE FACE YOU DESERVE
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT PEOPLE REALLY THINK ABOUT YOU

Survival Series 1983-1985

DANCE ON DOWN TO THE GOVERNMENT AND TELL THEM YOU'RE EAGER TO RULE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU

SPIT ALL OVER SOMEONE WITH A MOUTHFUL OF MILK IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT HIS PERSONALITY FAST

MOTHERS WITH REASON TO SOB SHOULD DO IT IN GROUPS IN PUBLIC AND WAIT FOR OFFERS

TRUST VISIONS THAT DON'T FEATURE BUCKETS OF BLOOD

YOU ARE SO COMPLEX THAT YOU DON'T ALWAYS RESPOND TO DANGER

PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT

THE FUTURE IS STUPID

YOUR MODERN FACE SEEMS THE SURPRISE ENDING

See more of Jenny Holzer's work.