His talent was as natural as the pattern that was made by the dust on a butterfly's wings. At one time he understood it no more than the butterfly did and he did not know when it was brushed or marred.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the intrinsic nature of artistic talent, comparing it to the natural beauty of a butterfly's wings.
Ernest Hemingway reflects on the idea that true talent is inherent and organic, much like the intricate designs found on a butterfly's wings. The comparison suggests that just as a butterfly is unaware of the unique patterns on its wings, a person may not fully grasp their own natural abilities until later in life. This realization highlights the beauty and complexity of self-discovery and creativity.
In practice
In a speech about embracing creativity in children, this quote could inspire parents to nurture artistic talents.
He no longer dreamed of storms, nor of women, nor of great occurrences, nor of great fish, nor fights, nor contests of strength, nor of his wife. He only dreamed of places now and the lions on the beach. They played like young cats in the dusk and he loved them as he loved the boy. He never dreamed about the boy. He simply woke, looked out the open door at the moon and unrolled his trousers and put them on.
How did you go bankrupt?" Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.
When you have shot one bird flying you have shot all birds flying. They are all different and they fly in different ways but the sensation is the same and the last one is as good as the first.
There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy.
Wine is the most civilized thing in the world.
There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.
There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
We are here to abet creation and to witness to it, to notice each other's beautiful face and complex nature so that creation need not play to an empty house.
I never knew I was a surrealist till Andre Breton came to Mexico and told me I was.
What I'm fighting for now in my work... for an expression relevant to all manner of blacks, poems I could take into a tavern, into the street, into the halls of a housing project.
I don't resent being a female painter. I don't exploit it. I paint.
There's a reason poets often say, 'Poetry saved my life,' for often the blank page is the only one listening to the soul's suffering, the only one registering the story completely, the only one receiving all softly and without condemnation.
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