The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by…
““The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain. If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em. If it hurts, repeat it. But to praise despair is to condemn delight, to embrace violence is to lose hold of everything else. We have almost lost hold; we can no longer describe a happy man, nor make any celebration of joy.””
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 critiques the cultural bias that glorifies pain and suffering as intellectually superior while dismissing happiness as trivial, urging artists to recognize both the banality of evil and the boredom of pain.
In simple terms: Pain is seen as deep, happiness as shallow; this view is challenged.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both joy and sorrow without glorifying suffering.
Themes
philosophy
art
emotion
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- art criticism
- personal reflection
- mental health discussions
Key Concepts
existentialism
aesthetic theory
moral relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does valuing happiness change artistic expression?
- Can pain be both meaningful and banal?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook that some art intentionally explores suffering to provoke insight.