Quote Investigator found no substantive evidence that Michelangelo made this remark. Its investigation traces an evolving sculptor joke through nineteenth-century examples, with Michelangelo-and-David versions appearing much later. Source and attribution evidence ↗
“It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David” — Anonymous
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Evoking the themes of creativity and simplicity. Theme: "It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
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Provenance
The source
Source
Sculptor anecdote traced by Quote Investigator
Evidence
Source trail checked; limitations stated
It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David
An excerpt of the wording under discussion; see the source and attribution limitations below.
Quote Investigator found no substantive evidence that Michelangelo made this remark. Its investigation traces an evolving sculptor joke through nineteenth-century examples, with Michelangelo-and-David versions appearing much later. Source and attribution evidence ↗
An 1858 discussion describes sculpting without the later joke; a humorous version was circulating by 1879. These are stages in the anecdote, not a transcript of Michelangelo speaking. Read the supporting source ↗
The source consulted does not establish first publication or the rights in this exact wording. No public-domain status is asserted.
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Often misattributed
Quote Investigator found no substantive evidence that Michelangelo made this remark. Its investigation traces an evolving sculptor joke through nineteenth-century examples, with Michelangelo-and-David versions appearing much later.
✕
The attribution or exact wordingMichelangelo Not established
An 1858 discussion describes sculpting without the later joke; a humorous version was circulating by 1879. These are stages in the anecdote, not a transcript of Michelangelo speaking. Source and attribution evidence ↗
✓Quote Investigator found no substantive evidence that Michelangelo made this remark. Its investigation traces an evolving sculptor joke through nineteenth-century examples, with Michelangelo-and-David versions appearing much later. Source and attribution evidence ↗
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Anonymous
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Sculptor anecdote traced by Quote Investigator. See the linked evidence for the wording and attribution limitations.
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Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘It is easy. You just chip away the stone that doesn't look like David’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/it-is-easy-you-just-chip-away-the-stone-that-doesnt-look/