Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?
John KeatsRead
I should write for the mere yearning and fondness I have for the beautiful, even if my night's labors should be burnt every morning and no eye shine upon them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the idea of creating art for the love of beauty, regardless of external recognition or success.
In this quote, John Keats reflects on the intrinsic value of artistic creation, suggesting that the drive to create should stem from a deep passion for beauty, rather than a desire for fame or validation. Even if one's efforts go unrecognized or are lost, the act of creating is worthwhile when it is motivated by love and longing for beauty in the world.
Themes
ArtCreationBeautyPassionLove
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in an art class to inspire students to create for the sake of enjoyment rather than grades.
More from John Keats
All quotes βAre there not thousands in the world who love their fellows even to the death, who feel the giant agony of the world, and more, like slaves to poor humanity, labor for mortal good?
John KeatsRead
Ask yourself my love whether you are not very cruel to have so entrammelled me, so destroyed my freedom. Will you confess this in the Letter you must write immediately, and do all you can to console me in it β make it rich as a draught of poppies to intoxicate me βwrite the softest words and kiss them that I may at least touch my lips where yours have been. For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form: I want a brighter word than bright, a fairer word than fair.
John KeatsRead
Faded the flower and all its budded charms,Faded the sight of beauty from my eyes,Faded the shape of beauty from my arms,Faded the voice, warmth, whiteness, paradise!Vanishd unseasonably
John KeatsRead
I think we may class the lawyer in the natural history of monsters.
John KeatsRead
...I leaped headlong into the Sea, and thereby have become more acquainted with the Soundings, the quicksands, and the rocks, than if I had stayed upon the green shore, and piped a silly pipe, and took tea and comfortable advice.
John KeatsRead
Similar quotes
Everyone who gave me food, who took away my hunger, inspired me to compose. They told me their stories, and I had no other way to console them than with a piece of music, and that is how I learned. I did not resolve their problems with my songs, but I created a moment of release.
Juan GabrielRead
Poetry, my dear friends, is a sacred incarnation of a smile. Poetry is a sigh that dries the tears. Poetry is a spirit who dwells in the soul, whose nourishment is the heart, whose wine is affection. Poetry that comes not in this form is a false messiah.
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When I'm stuck for a closing to a lyric, I will drag out my last resort: overwhelming illogic.
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We find things beautiful because we recognize them and contrariwise we find things beautiful because their novelty surprises us.
W. Somerset MaughamRead