What was any art but a mould in which to imprison for a moment the shining elusive element which is life itself - life hurrying past us and running away, too strong to stop, too sweet to lose.
Willa CatherRead
A work-room should be like an old shoe; no matter how shabby, it's better than a new one.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A personal space for creativity can be unrefined yet comforting, conveying familiarity over novelty.
This quote by Willa Cather highlights the idea that a work environment, much like an old shoe, should feel comfortable and familiar, even if it shows signs of age and wear. It suggests that a space steeped in personal history and memories can inspire creativity and productivity, in contrast to a pristine but uninhabited new space that lacks character and soul.
Themes
WorkshopCreativityComfortPersonal SpaceFamiliarity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity, the quote can be used to emphasize the importance of comfort in one's workspace.
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Our tree became the talking tree of the fairy tale; legends and stories nestled like birds in its branches.
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Writing ought either to be the manufacture of stories for which there is a market demand - a business as safe and commendable as making soap or breakfast foods - or it should be an art, which is always a search for something for which there is no market demand, something new and untried, where the values are intrinsic and have nothing to do with standardized values.
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The air and the earth interpenetrated in the warm gusts of spring; the soil was full of sunlight, and the sunlight full of red dust. The air one breathed was saturated with earthy smells, and the grass under foot had a reflection of the blue sky in it.
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This is reality, whether you like it or not--all those frivolities of summer, the light and shadow, the living mask of green that trembled over everything, they were lies, and this is what was underneath. This is the truth.
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