Skip to content

Now, boys, you won't see this operation performed very…

“Now, boys, you won't see this operation performed very often and there's a reason for that... You see it has absolutely no medical value. No one knows what the purpose of it originally was or if it had a purpose at all. Personally I think it was a pure artistic creation from the beginning.” quote by William S. Burroughs
Download Open image
““Now, boys, you won't see this operation performed very often and there's a reason for that... You see it has absolutely no medical value. No one knows what the purpose of it originally was or if it had a purpose at all. Personally I think it was a pure artistic creation from the beginning.””

William S. Burroughs

About This Quote

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

The operation is performed rarely because it lacks clear purpose, suggesting it may be purely artistic.

In simple terms: Rare, purposeless procedure seen as art.

Key Takeaway

Question the value of form without function.

Themes

art purpose meaning rarity

Mood

skeptical inquisitive

Type

critical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • medical ethics
  • art criticism
  • creative experimentation

Key Concepts

existentialism aesthetics critique

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is art valuable without practical use?
  • What defines purpose in creative work?
A Different Perspective

Artistic acts without utility can be questioned.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by William S. Burroughs

Explore all 484 William S. Burroughs quotes

More Doctor quotes

Browse all 3,922 Doctor quotes