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No picture is made to endure nor to live with but it is…

“No picture is made to endure nor to live with but it is made to sell and sell quickly with usura, sin against nature, is thy bread ever more of stale rags is thy bread dry as paper.” quote by Ezra Pound
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“No picture is made to endure nor to live with but it is made to sell and sell quickly with usura, sin against nature, is thy bread ever more of stale rags is thy bread dry as paper.”

Ezra Pound

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote criticizes the commodification of art, suggesting it is created for profit rather than lasting value, and likens this to exploiting nature and producing worthless sustenance.

In simple terms: Art is made for profit, not lasting value.

Key Takeaway

Create for meaning, not just money.

Themes

art commercialism exploitation nature value

Mood

critical reflective

Type

cautionary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • gallery exhibitions
  • advertising campaigns
  • mass‑produced media
  • consumer culture

Key Concepts

capitalism materialism environmental ethics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does commercialization affect artistic authenticity?
  • Can art retain value when driven by profit?
A Different Perspective

Profit motives can undermine artistic integrity and ecological balance.

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