We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
OvidRead
The workmanship was better than the subject matter.
Interpretation
The skill or craftsmanship in creation can sometimes overshadow the actual topic or theme being depicted.
This quote by Ovid suggests that the quality of craftsmanship and the way something is made can be more impressive or important than the actual subject being represented. It emphasizes the value of artistry and skill, indicating that a well-made piece of work can elevate even a mundane or unremarkable subject into something remarkable and worthy of appreciation.
In practice
In an art gallery discussion, one might say, 'As Ovid noted, the workmanship was better than the subject matter, showcasing the skill of the artist involved.'
We are slow to believe that which if believed would hurt our feelings.
All things human hang by a slender thread; and that which seemed to stand strong suddenly falls and sinks in ruins.
A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn; it can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.
Fas est ab hoste doceri._x000D_ One should learn even from one's enemies.
Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.
The end doesn't justify the means.
Novels are not about expressing yourself, they're about something beautiful, funny, clever and organic. Self-expression ? Go and ring a bell in a yard if you want to express yourself.
His laughter tinkled among the teacups.
When I don't have a story to tell, I'm a terror to live with.
I refused to accept anything, doubted everything. So, doubting everything, I had to find something that had not existed before, something I had not thought of before. Any idea that came to me, the thing would be to turn it around and try to see it with another set of senses.
This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof.
The first act of insight is throw away the labels. In fiction, while we do not necessarily write about ourselves, we write out of ourselves, using ourselves; what we learn from, what we are sensitive to, what we feel strongly about--these become our characters and go to make our plots. Characters in fiction are conceived from within, and they have, accordingly, their own interior life; they are individuals every time.
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