What do these mean

Arts are an adornment of life but not central to it

The absentminded professor the ivory tower reflect antiintellectualism

3 answers

Arts are like jewelry. They are decorative, but not necessary.

The second quote implies that professors aren't practical and that they see an ideal world.
What are some pictures or symbols that could represent these quotes?

For the first one would I just do art like maybe a brush and for second one a businessmen? Or what's something more symbolic
You could use a brush, but how about a piece of cubic art work.

http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/art-movements/cubism/picasso_cubism.jpg

You might want one of these pictures of an ivory tower.

http://www.google.com/search?q=ivory+tower&biw=1901&bih=927&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBi5ntv83JAhVQ-mMKHRYaDn8QsAQINg