--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint…" description: "\"Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow romantic, I must paint it.\" — Alexander Pope" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png" --- # Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow… ![“Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow romantic, I must paint it.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png) > “Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow romantic, I must paint it.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art should capture all aspects of love, even its foolishness, without moral judgment. **In simple terms:** Paint love’s folly as it is. Key Takeaway Embrace love’s complexity. Themes love art folly expression Mood playful thoughtful Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing poetry - visual arts - relationship counseling - media critique Key Concepts aesthetic romanticism Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance honesty and idealism? - When is it okay to glorify folly? A Different Perspective Romanticizing folly may overlook harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Charmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charmers/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) ## Related quotes > [The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-difference-between-the-saint-and-the-sinner-is-that-every/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“One can covert only a sinner, never a saint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/one-can-covert-only-a-sinner-never-a-saint/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Concluding a short series on sin: It is appalling to think of a power so strong that it can annihilate with the irresistible force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brent/concluding-a-short-series-on-sin-it-is-appalling-to-think-of-a-power/) [Charles Brent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brent/) > [One can convert only a sinner, never a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/one-can-convert-only-a-sinner-never-a-saint/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [I've been a sinner and a saint. If you've been a saint all your life, it's pretty easy to sleep at night. If you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-ve-been-a-sinner-and-a-saint-if-you-ve-been-a-saint-all-your-life-2/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [You cannot make a sinner into a saint by killing him. He who does not live as a saint here will never live as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/you-cannot-make-a-sinner-into-a-saint-by-killing-him-he-who-does-not/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [A saint is a sinner, a sinner is a saint. It's all just the cloaks we hide behind, a cartoon in the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/live-band/a-saint-is-a-sinner-a-sinner-is-a-saint-it-s-all-just-the-cloaks-we/) [Live (Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/live-band/) > [“It is I who drink lonely Drinks at twelve, midnight, in hotels of strange towns, It is I who laugh, it is I who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-das/it-is-i-who-drink-lonely-drinks-at-twelve-midnight-in-hotels-of/) Kamala Das > [Call me a sinner, call me a saint Tell me its over, I'll still love you the same Call me your favorite Call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinedown/call-me-a-sinner-call-me-a-saint-tell-me-its-over-i-ll-still-love-you/) [Shinedown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinedown/) > [“What matters is the sinner becomes a saint through the grace of salvation in Christ Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-matters-is-the-sinner-becomes-a-saint-through-the-grace-of/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [He is very imprudent, a dog; he never makes it his business to inquire whether you are in the right or the wrong, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/he-is-very-imprudent-a-dog-he-never-makes-it-his-business-to-inquire/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [I've been a sinner and a saint. If you've been a saint all your life, it's pretty easy to sleep at night. If you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-ve-been-a-sinner-and-a-saint-if-you-ve-been-a-saint-all-your-life/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [Call me a sinner, call me a saint tell me it's over, I'll still love you the same call me your favorite, call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/call-me-a-sinner-call-me-a-saint-tell-me-it-s-over-i-ll-still-love/) [James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/) > [Call me a sinner, call me a saint, tell me its over ill still love you the same, call me your favorite, call me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/call-me-a-sinner-call-me-a-saint-tell-me-its-over-ill-still-love-you/) [James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/) > [The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/the-infinite-atonement-is-for-both-the-sinner-and-for-the-saint-in/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow romantic, I must paint it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Pope" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-it-if-folly-grow-romantic-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-it-if-folly-grow-romantic-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d8/alexander-pope-235_artist_whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-i_2101301.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it, If folly grow romantic, I must paint it.” — Alexander Pope", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alexander Pope", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Whether the charmer sinner it, or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-it-if-folly-grow-romantic-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/whether-the-charmer-sinner-it-or-saint-it-if-folly-grow-romantic-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```