What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
Great art is never produced for its own sake. It is too difficult to be worth the effort.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great art requires purpose and meaning beyond mere creation due to its inherent challenges.
In this quote, George Bernard Shaw emphasizes that the creation of great art is not a trivial pursuit; it demands significant effort and depth of purpose. Truly impactful art stems from a desire to express profound ideas, emotions, or social commentary, rather than being created for superficial reasons. Shaw suggests that without a compelling motivation, the struggle of artistic creation is often not justified.
Themes
ArtCreativityPurposeEffortExpression
In practice
Example use cases
During a talk about the importance of artistic expression at a university, this quote can be used to highlight the necessity of intention in art.
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes βMarriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
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Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
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Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
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Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
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The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
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