Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame.
Alexander PopeRead
Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the paradox of art and intellect, where complex creations can bewilder those without knowledge while amusing those who understand.
In this quote, Alexander Pope reflects on the nature of artistic expression and how it can evoke different responses from people based on their knowledge and understanding. The 'labour'd nothings' refers to the painstaking work artists put into their creations, which can appear whimsical or nonsensical. While the unlearned may be amazed by the seemingly absurd, those who appreciate the deeper meaning or craftsmanship find joy in the cleverness and skill involved, thus creating a divide between different audiences.
Themes
ArtIntellectUnderstandingHumorCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about modern art and its impact, citing this quote can open up the conversation about differing interpretations.
More from Alexander Pope
All quotes βWhat dire offence from am'rous causes springs, What mighty contests rise from trivial things.
Alexander PopeRead
Fair tresses man's imperial race ensnare; And beauty draws us with a single hair.
Alexander PopeRead
An honest man's the noblest work of God.
Alexander PopeRead
One thought of thee puts all the pomp to flight;_x000D_ _x000D_ Priests, tapers, temples, swim before my sight.
Alexander PopeRead
Who breaks a butterfly on a wheel?
Alexander PopeRead
Similar quotes
My mother likes what I cook, but doesn't think it's French. My wife is Puerto Rican and Cuban, so I eat rice and beans. We have a place in Mexico, but people think I'm the quintessential French chef.
Jacques PepinRead
As musicians and artists, it's important we have an environment - and I guess when I say environment, I really mean the industry, that really nurtures these gifts. Oftentimes, the machine can overlook the need to take care of the people who produce the sounds that have a lot to do with the health and well-being of society.
Lauryn HillRead
Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.
Steve JobsRead
When it is working, you completely go into another place, you're tapping into things that are totally universal, completely beyond your ego and your own self. That's what it's all about.
Keith HaringRead
I wish you didn't have to design so often. Try to do quality and cut down on quantity. I think fashion is very, very important.
Vivienne WestwoodRead
Camus says in 'The Stranger' that reason is the enemy of imagination. Sometimes you have to put reason aside and make something beautiful.
Oscar NiemeyerRead