--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Without charm there can be no fine…" description: "\"Without charm there can be no fine literature, as there can be no perfect flower without fragrance.\" — Arthur Symons" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png" --- # Without charm there can be no fine literature, as there… ![“Without charm there can be no fine literature, as there can be no perfect flower without fragrance.” quote by Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png) > “Without charm there can be no fine literature, as there can be no perfect flower without fragrance.” [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literature needs charm like a flower needs fragrance to be perfect. **In simple terms:** Charm is essential for great literature. Key Takeaway Cultivate charm in writing. Themes art beauty creativity Mood creative analytical Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - writing - poetry - novel - marketing Key Concepts aesthetics literary theory Questions to Reflect On - How can you add charm to your work? - What is the role of substance vs. style? A Different Perspective Charm alone doesn't guarantee quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Charm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charm/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) ## Related quotes > [“A man who becomes enchanted by the flower's fragrance stays only for a fleeting moment, but a man who comes because of love stays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-dong-hwa/a-man-who-becomes-enchanted-by-the-flower-s-fragrance-stays-only-for/) [Kim Dong Hwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-dong-hwa/) > [Even if the flower is no more, still, the fragrance can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaggi-vasudev/even-if-the-flower-is-no-more-still-the-fragrance-can-be/) [Jaggi Vasudev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaggi-vasudev/) > [Life without Love is as a flower without fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-b-garnett/life-without-love-is-as-a-flower-without-fragrance/) [Richard B. Garnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-b-garnett/) > [“Like a beautifully brightly colored flower without fragrance, is the well-spoken word without action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/like-a-beautifully-brightly-colored-flower-without-fragrance-is-the/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“A woman to a man is as a fragrance to a flower. When fragrance disappears, flower becomes valueless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faraz-ahmed-memon/a-woman-to-a-man-is-as-a-fragrance-to-a-flower-when-fragrance/) Faraz Ahmed Memon > [A kiss without a hug is like a flower without the fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/a-kiss-without-a-hug-is-like-a-flower-without-the-fragrance/) Proverb > [“Academics always feel that they deserve more. (Roberto Bolano) Reading and enjoying fine literature is a highly cultivated and refined activity, whereas writing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-leine/academics-always-feel-that-they-deserve-more-roberto-bolano-reading/) Kim Leine > [To speak in literature with the perfect rectitude and insouciance of the movements of animals and the unimpeachable of the sentiment of trees in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/to-speak-in-literature-with-the-perfect-rectitude-and-insouciance-of/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [To utter pleasant words without practicing them, is like a fine flower without fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/to-utter-pleasant-words-without-practicing-them-is-like-a-fine-flower/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [A flower's fragrance declares to all the world that it is fertile, available, and desirable, its sex organs oozing with nectar. Its smell reminds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/a-flower-s-fragrance-declares-to-all-the-world-that-it-is-fertile/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [Pleasure is to a woman what the sun is to the flower: if moderately enjoyed, it beautifies, it refreshes, and it improves; if immoderately,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/pleasure-is-to-a-woman-what-the-sun-is-to-the-flower-if-moderately/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [One my closest friends doesn't care about sharing her clothes or jewelry, but she never shares her fragrance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/one-my-closest-friends-doesn-t-care-about-sharing-her-clothes-or/) [Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/) > [“THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU When I hold a rose, I see the soft, velvety petals and smile, because tucked between those precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-schroeder/the-difference-between-me-and-you-when-i-hold-a-rose-i-see-the-soft/) [Lisa Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-schroeder/) > [The odor of bowel wind is known to every human, but the fragrance of book glue has crossed only a fraction of mortal nostrils.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-odor-of-bowel-wind-is-known-to-every-human-but-the-fragrance-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nature is pitiless; she never withdraws her flowers, her music, her fragrance, and her sunlight from before human cruelty or suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/nature-is-pitiless-she-never-withdraws-her-flowers-her-music-her/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More by Arthur Symons > [A place has almost the shyness of a person, with strangers; and its secret is not to be surprised by a too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-the-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-and-its/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [My life is like a music-hall,Where, in the impotence of rage,Chained by enchantment to my stall,I see myself upon the stageDance to amuse a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/my-life-is-like-a-music-hall-where-in-the-impotence-of-rage-chained/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [The clamours of spring are the same old delicate noises, The earth renews its magical youth at a breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/the-clamours-of-spring-are-the-same-old-delicate-noises-the-earth/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [I know the woman has no soul, I know The woman has no possibilities Of soul or mind or heart, but merely is The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/i-know-the-woman-has-no-soul-i-know-the-woman-has-no-possibilities-of/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [God, like all highest things, Hides light in shade, And in the night his visitings To sleep and dreams are clearliest made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/god-like-all-highest-things-hides-light-in-shade-and-in-the-night-his/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [Leave words to them whom words, not doings, move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/leave-words-to-them-whom-words-not-doings-move/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [A realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-realist-in-venice-would-become-a-romantic-by-mere-faithfulness-to/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [The English mist is always at work like a subtle painter, and London is a vast canvas prepared for the mist to work on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/the-english-mist-is-always-at-work-like-a-subtle-painter-and-london/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [I had my dreams of Venice, but nothing that I had dreamed was as impossible as what I found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/i-had-my-dreams-of-venice-but-nothing-that-i-had-dreamed-was-as/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [Hardly any one is able to see what is before him, just as it is in itself. He comes expecting one thing, he finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/hardly-any-one-is-able-to-see-what-is-before-him-just-as-it-is-in/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [Sweet, can I sing you the song of your kisses? How soft is this one, how subtle this is, How fluttering swift as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/sweet-can-i-sing-you-the-song-of-your-kisses-how-soft-is-this-one-how/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [The mystic too full of God to speak intelligibly to the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/the-mystic-too-full-of-god-to-speak-intelligibly-to-the-world/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [A place has almost a shyness of a person with strangers; its secret is not to be surprised by too direct interrogation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/a-place-has-almost-a-shyness-of-a-person-with-strangers-its-secret-is/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [My soul is like this cloudy, flaming opal ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/my-soul-is-like-this-cloudy-flaming-opal-ring/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) > [Love is a flaming heart, and its flames aspire / Till they cloud the soul in the smoke of a windy fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/love-is-a-flaming-heart-and-its-flames-aspire-till-they-cloud-the/) [Arthur Symons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) [Explore all 43 Arthur Symons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Without charm there can be no fine literature, as there can be no perfect flower without fragrance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur Symons" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-literature-as-there-can-be-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-literature-as-there-can-be-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13a/arthur-symons-15411_books_without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-liter_501866.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Without charm there can be no fine literature, as there can be no perfect flower without fragrance.” — Arthur Symons", "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": "Arthur Symons", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-symons/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Without charm there can be no...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-literature-as-there-can-be-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-symons/without-charm-there-can-be-no-fine-literature-as-there-can-be-no/#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 } } ] } ```