--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it…" description: "\"Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it would be indescribable.\" — Edward Gorey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg" --- # Ideally, if anything \[was\] any good, it would be… ![“Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it would be indescribable.” quote by Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg) > “Ideally, if anything \[was\] any good, it would be indescribable.” [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He suggests that true excellence is beyond words, defying description. **In simple terms:** Great things can’t be described. Key Takeaway Accept mystery in excellence. Themes excellence ineffability artistic mystery Mood thoughtful enigmatic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - literature - visual art - creative critique - philosophical discourse Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy subjectivity Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean for something to be indescribable? - How does mystery affect appreciation? A Different Perspective Describing excellence may limit imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“Idea lady is the ideal lady!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/idea-lady-is-the-ideal-lady/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The mentor-mentee relationship is ideally like that of the guru and disciple: motivated by the desire of the guru to impart knowledge to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-wadhwa/the-mentor-mentee-relationship-is-ideally-like-that-of-the-guru-and/) [Vivek Wadhwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-wadhwa/) > [Wearing a breathable fabric is the most important thing for me. I also love to keep it simple and keep the number of garments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rhoda/wearing-a-breathable-fabric-is-the-most-important-thing-for-me-i-also/) [Hilary Rhoda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rhoda/) > [Tech companies don't exist in a bubble; they draw from and feed into a larger community. Ideally, the relationship is symbiotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/tech-companies-don-t-exist-in-a-bubble-they-draw-from-and-feed-into-a/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [Ideally, content should be shared, mixed, mashed, and reposted - it wants to flow through the Internet like water. This was the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/ideally-content-should-be-shared-mixed-mashed-and-reposted-it-wants/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Ideally, musicians belong outside the Establishment. When they cross that line, it's like something in them has died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kapranos/ideally-musicians-belong-outside-the-establishment-when-they-cross/) [Alex Kapranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kapranos/) > [“As far as it’s ideal that you get helped by people, it doesn't mean they are compelled to make your dreams come true without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/as-far-as-it-s-ideal-that-you-get-helped-by-people-it-doesn-t-mean/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Ideally, nothing should be shown, but that’s impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bresson/ideally-nothing-should-be-shown-but-that-s-impossible/) [Robert Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bresson/) > [“Ideally, of course, a relationship is best, but then how many people are capable of deep feeling? Practically none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/ideally-of-course-a-relationship-is-best-but-then-how-many-people-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I don't really give much thought to the roles that I'd ideally love to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-o-brien/i-don-t-really-give-much-thought-to-the-roles-that-i-d-ideally-love/) [Dylan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-o-brien/) > [Every news organization should ideally be as broadly representative as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-woodruff/every-news-organization-should-ideally-be-as-broadly-representative/) [Judy Woodruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-woodruff/) > [“A utopia is an ideally perfect place. Who's ideas are we going by?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-mikkel-nacht/a-utopia-is-an-ideally-perfect-place-who-s-ideas-are-we-going-by/) Felicity Mikkel Nacht > [Ideally, I'd love to do a comedy just because, work-wise, it'd be a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-stevens/ideally-i-d-love-to-do-a-comedy-just-because-work-wise-it-d-be-a-lot/) [Amber Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-stevens/) > [As a technology, the book is like a hammer. That is to say, it is perfect: a tool ideally suited to its task. Hammers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/as-a-technology-the-book-is-like-a-hammer-that-is-to-say-it-is/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [Ideally, I would like to not be in the public eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-bloom/ideally-i-would-like-to-not-be-in-the-public-eye/) [Molly Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-bloom/) ## More by Edward Gorey > [I have given up considering happiness as relevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-have-given-up-considering-happiness-as-relevant/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [Interviewer: What is your greatest regret? Gorey: That I don't have one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/interviewer-what-is-your-greatest-regret-gorey-that-i-don-t-have-one/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I should like a parsley sandwich. To the best of my knowledge they are not in season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-should-like-a-parsley-sandwich-to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-they-are/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [There was a young lady named Mae Who smoked without stopping all day; As pack followed pack, Her lungs first turned black, And eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/there-was-a-young-lady-named-mae-who-smoked-without-stopping-all-day/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“Apropos of nothing at all except that it has been on my mind and I think I had better say it because it accounts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/apropos-of-nothing-at-all-except-that-it-has-been-on-my-mind-and-i/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [Vice is nice, but a little virtue won't hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/vice-is-nice-but-a-little-virtue-won-t-hurt-you/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“How elegant! how choice! how gay! To think one doesn’t have to pay. There is sound of falling tears; It comes from nowhere to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/how-elegant-how-choice-how-gay-to-think-one-doesn-t-have-to-pay-there/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I just kind of conjured them up out of my subconscious and put them in order of ascending peculiarity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-just-kind-of-conjured-them-up-out-of-my-subconscious-and-put-them/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I've never had any intentions about anything. That's why I am where I am today, which is neither here nor there, in a literal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-ve-never-had-any-intentions-about-anything-that-s-why-i-am-where-i/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [The Suicide, as she is falling, Illuminated by the moon, Regrets her act, and finds appalling The thought she will be dead so soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/the-suicide-as-she-is-falling-illuminated-by-the-moon-regrets-her-act/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [“He presented it with a length of string and passed on to the statue of Corrupted Endeavor to await the arrival of Autumn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/he-presented-it-with-a-length-of-string-and-passed-on-to-the-statue/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I don't know what it is I'm doing. But it's not that. Despite all evidence to the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-i-m-doing-but-it-s-not-that-despite-all/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I realize that homosexuality is a serious problem for anyone who is - but then, of course, heterosexuality is a serious problem for anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-realize-that-homosexuality-is-a-serious-problem-for-anyone-who-is/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) > [I really think I write about everyday life. I don't think I'm quite as odd as others say I am. Life is intrinsically, well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/i-really-think-i-write-about-everyday-life-i-don-t-think-i-m-quite-as-2/) [Edward Gorey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) [Explore all 73 Edward Gorey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/) ## More Funny quotes > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Sometimes I look at my awesome twitter followers & think to myself, What the hell would I do without them :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/sometimes-i-look-at-my-awesome-twitter-followers-think-to-myself-what/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Congratulations to Facebook on going public with all my private information...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/congratulations-to-facebook-on-going-public-with-all-my-private/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why are things as they are and not otherwise?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-kepler/why-are-things-as-they-are-and-not-otherwise/) [Johannes Kepler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-kepler/) > [I've been funny my whole life. This is a gift God gave me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/i-ve-been-funny-my-whole-life-this-is-a-gift-god-gave-me/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Penis goes in , sperms cums out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/penis-goes-in-sperms-cums-out/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/) [Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes > [If you can connect people, you can create the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-heiferman/if-you-can-connect-people-you-can-create-the-future/) [Scott Heiferman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-heiferman/) > [Don't think OF the market. Think AS the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fishman/don-t-think-of-the-market-think-as-the-market/) Michael Fishman [Browse all 39,858 Funny quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it would be indescribable.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Gorey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-would-be-indescribable/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Funny" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-would-be-indescribable/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44b/edward-gorey-9339_funny_ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-woul_1912080.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ideally, if anything [was] any good, it would be indescribable.” — Edward Gorey", "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": "Edward Gorey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gorey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ideally, if anything [was] any good,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-would-be-indescribable/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gorey/ideally-if-anything-was-any-good-it-would-be-indescribable/#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 } } ] } ```