Give me hunger, pain and want, Shut me out with shame and failure From your doors of gold and fame, Give me your shabbiest, weariest hunger! But leave me a little love.
Carl SandburgRead
A book is never a masterpiece: it becomes one. Genius is the talent of a dead man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A book evolves into a masterpiece through time and perception, while genius often only receives recognition posthumously.
Carl Sandburg's quote suggests that the value and artistry of a book are not immediately apparent but require time and a shift in perception to be recognized as a masterpiece. Furthermore, it touches upon the tragic reality that genius and true talent are frequently acknowledged only after the individual has passed away, underscoring the complexities of artistic legacy and recognition.
Themes
BookMasterpieceGeniusTalentArtistry
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about literary influences, this quote can highlight how some books gain their status over time.
More from Carl Sandburg
All quotes βNothing happens... but first a dream.
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Read the dictionary from A to Izzard today. Get a vocabulary. Brush up on your diction. See whether wisdom is just a lot of language.
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My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
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There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.
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A liar goes in fine clothes, a liar goes in rags, a liar is a liar, clothes or no clothes.
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