I make a lot of pots in a year's time and some of them are…
“I make a lot of pots in a year's time and some of them are good and some of them are mediocre and some of them are bad. If they're really bad and I'd be ashamed of them, I throw them out, but if they're mediocre and they'll serve the purpose for which they're designed, that is, a mixing bowl or a soup bowl or a plate or whatever, I sell them. And this income from the sale of these pots permits me to go on and make other pots. It's even more important now that I've quit teaching, because I do not have a teacher's salary to fall back on.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The potter discards only truly bad work, sells functional pieces, and uses that income to continue creating, especially after losing a steady salary.
In simple terms: He keeps only usable pots, sells them, and funds further work.
Key Takeaway
Accept imperfection, sell what works, keep creating.
Themes
craft
entrepreneurship
resilience
Mood
pragmatic
determined
Type
practical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- studio practice
- small business
- artist income
- post‑teaching career
Key Concepts
sustainability
creative economy
self-reliance
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when a piece is good enough to sell?
- What strategies can artists use when steady income is lost?
A Different Perspective
If market demand drops, selling mediocre work may not sustain livelihood.