As an artist, you are always striving toward an ultimate achievement but never seem to reach it. You shoot a film, and the result could have always been better. You try again, and fail once more. In some ways I find it enjoyable. You never lose sight of your goal. I don’t do my job to make money or to break box office records, I simply try things out. What would happen if I were to achieve perfection at some point? What would I do then?
You must in all Airs follow the strength, spirit, and disposition of the horse, and do nothing against nature; for art is but to set nature in order, and nothing else.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True art harmonizes with the natural abilities and characteristics of the subject, rather than forcing an unnatural approach.
In this quote, William Cavendish emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting the innate qualities of the horse in the context of art. He suggests that true artistry lies in arranging and showcasing nature's strengths and spirit rather than imposing artificial constraints or demands. This reflects a broader perspective that can be applied to various forms of creativity and expression, where authenticity and alignment with the natural order should guide the artistic process.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about equestrian art, one might say, 'Remember, you must in all Airs follow the strength of the horse.'
Similar quotes
I know I'm not the kind of music that's going to have tons of screaming fans, and I'm not gonna be everyone's cup of tea. I just want to do as good a job as I can.
I can communicate far better on a guitar than I can through my mouth.
A street is a story in asphalt - so it's a paradox that the streets are the one place where the movies play fast and loose with continuity, something to which L.A. streets lend themselves as naturally as does the city's psyche.
Imagination helps the realism of every detail, and only sees the beauties of the work.
There is romance, the genuine glinting stuff, in typewriters, and not merely in their development from clumsy giants into agile dwarfs, but in the history of their manufacture, which is filled with raids, battles, lonely pioneers, great gambles, hope, fear, despair, triumph. If some of our novels could be written by the typewriters instead of on them, how much better they would be.