Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
The easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being an artist involves both clarity of message and timing.
This quote by Mark Twain highlights the dual challenges faced by artists: the initial task of formulating a message that resonates with the audience and the far more daunting task of patiently waiting for the right moment to present that message. It underscores the importance of timing in communication and artistic expression, suggesting that even with a perfect message, it can fall flat if introduced at the wrong time.
Themes
ArtistMessageTimingExpressionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about artistic challenges at a gallery opening.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes →You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
Mark TwainRead
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Mark TwainRead
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
Mark TwainRead
In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
Mark TwainRead
Some things you can't find out; but you will never know you can't by guessing and supposing: no, you have to be patient and go on experimenting until you find out that you can't find out.
Mark TwainRead
Similar quotes
I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door.
Joan CrawfordRead
Fashion is a language that creates itself in clothes to interpret reality.
Karl LagerfeldRead
The world is a king, and like a king, desires flattery in return for favor; but true art is selfish and perverse — it will not submit to the mold of flattery.
Ludwig Van BeethovenRead
Movie-wise, there is nothing I wouldn't do again. It's not possible to make one perfect movie every time.
Francis Ford CoppolaRead
You're creating a different world and the actor's job is to be able to convince the audience to enter into that world, whether it be actually something that you recognize from your own life or not.
Christian BaleRead
We are persons of quality, I assure you, and women of fashion, and come to see and to be seen.
Ben JonsonRead