... A purely materialistic art would be like a tree which is expected to bear
fruit without flowering, and to sacrifice grace and beauty for mere utility.
Those who learn here should from the beginning, sedulously avoid this spirit
of utilitarianism. Our admiration for the Creator's handiwork should not be
limited to those things He has provided us with for our daily needs, but
should include all that is good and beautiful. It is these tender feelings of
deep and silent admiration evoked from our hearts by the beauties of
creation that should find adequate expression in the fine arts.
As We have stated time and again, it is easy to begin but hard to finish, and
We express on this occasion both Our happiness at what We see here today,
as well as Our strong hope to see this work which is now begun bearing fruit
in the near future.
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Haile Selassie the First - July 23, 1958
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