I asked her to look at me and after a few moments - (pause) - after a few moments she did, but the eyes just slits, because of the glare I bent over her to get them in the shadow and they opened. (Pause. Low) Let me in.
Samuel BeckettRead
To be an artist is to fail, as no other dare fail, that failure is his world and the shrink from desertion, art and craft, good housekeeping, living.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being an artist involves embracing failure, as it is an integral part of the creative process and life itself.
Samuel Beckett's quote emphasizes that artists experience failure in ways that are intense and profound, unlike those in other professions. This failure is not only a part of the artistic journey but also reflects the struggles of life, highlighting that true artistry is tied to vulnerability and resilience, necessitating an acceptance of imperfection and the challenges that come with creation.
Themes
ArtistFailureCreativityVulnerabilityLifeArtistic Process
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in an art class to illustrate the importance of embracing mistakes in the creative process.
More from Samuel Beckett
All quotes →Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.
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I shall state silences more competently than ever a better man spangled the butterflies of vertigo.
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And what I have, what I am, is enough, was always enough for me, and as far as my dear little sweet little future is concerned I have no qualms, I have a good time coming.
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I love order. It's my dream. A world where all would be silent and still, and each thing in its last place, under the last dust.
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We lose our hair, our teeth! Our bloom, our ideals.
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