To be a teacher is my greatest work of art. The rest is the waste product, a demonstration. If you want to express yourself you must present something tangible. But after a while this has only the function of a historic document. Objects aren't very important any more. I want to get to the origin of matter, to the thought behind it.

in 'An interview with Joseph Beuys,', Willoughby Sharp, published in 'Artforum,' November 1969