"A painting means as much to you as a string of pearls to an ape"

This quote by Paul Scofield is a funny method of saying that a painting has no worth to someone that does dislike it. It is an allegory for the concept that art is only beneficial to those that understand and also appreciate it. Equally as a string of pearls has no value to an ape, a painting has no value to a person that does not comprehend or appreciate it. This quote is a tip that art is subjective which it is just valuable to those that recognize and appreciate it. It is a suggestion that art is not something that can be evaluated by its monetary value, but instead by its psychological and also intellectual value. It is a reminder that art is something that should be valued and respected, despite its monetary value.