All I want to see from an actor is the intensity and accuracy of their listening.
Have little care that Life is brief, And less that Art is long. Success is in the silences Though Fame is in the song.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the transient nature of life and the enduring impact of art, suggesting that true success lies in quiet moments rather than public recognition.
Bliss Carman's quote meditates on the fleeting nature of life and the lasting quality of art. It implies that while life may be short, the creations of art can leave a profound impact that transcends time. Additionally, it highlights that true success often resides in the quiet achievements and personal satisfaction found within the act of creation, as opposed to the public accolades and fame that can be ephemeral and shallow.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during an art exhibition opening to inspire artists.
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On the whole, dialogue is the most difficult thing, without any doubt. It's very difficult, unfortunately. You have to detach yourself from the notion of a lifelike quality. You see, actually lifelike, tape-recorded dialogue like this has very little to do with good novel dialogue. It's a matter of getting that awful tyranny of mimesis out of your mind, which is difficult.
And before I'd got to the end of the first paragraph, I'd come up slap bang against a fundamental problem that still troubles me today whenever I begin a story, and it's this: where am I telling it from?
My music is evidence of my soul's will to live.
Writing is not a matter of choice. Writers have to write. It is somehow in their temperament, in the blood, in tradition.