Show me a man who over-elaborates and I will show you a…
““Show me a man who over-elaborates and I will show you a great man! What is called their 'overelaboration' is my meat: it is the sign of struggle, it is struggle itself with all the fibers clinging to it, the very aura and ambiance of the discordant spirit. And when you show me a man who expresses himself perfectly I will not say that he is not great, but I will say that I am unattracted . . . I miss the cloying qualities. When I reflect that the task which the artist implicitly sets himself is to overthrow existing values, to make of the chaos about him an order which is his own, to sow strife and ferment so that by the emotional release those who are dead may be restored to life, then it is that I run with joy to the great and imperfect ones, their confusion nourishes me, their stuttering is like divine music to my ears.””
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 celebrates the value of struggle, imperfection, and chaotic creativity as signs of greatness, contrasting it with bland perfection.
In simple terms: Struggle and imperfection show greatness more than flawless calm.
Key Takeaway
Embrace chaos and imperfection in creative work.
Themes
creativity
imperfection
struggle
art
authenticity
Mood
passionate
reflective
intense
Type
philosophical
inspirational
literary
When to use this quote
- writing
- visual arts
- performance
- innovation
- personal growth
Key Concepts
existentialism
aesthetic theory
psychology of art
Questions to Reflect On
- How does imperfection inspire your own work?
- When have you found value in struggle?
A Different Perspective
Perfection can also be powerful; not all chaos leads to meaningful creation.