--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating…" description: "\"Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and gratifying.\" — F. Scott Fitzgerald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg" --- # Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and… ![“Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and gratifying.” quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg) > “Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and gratifying.” [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fitzgerald describes Shakespeare’s work as simultaneously challenging, irritating, surprising, and rewarding, reflecting its complex emotional impact. **In simple terms:** Shakespeare’s works are tough, irritating, surprising, and rewarding. Key Takeaway Embrace literary complexity. Themes complexity artistic tension reward Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical inspirational When to use this quote - reading strategy - creative writing - analysis Key Concepts Literary criticism Shakespearean drama emotional response Questions to Reflect On - Why do we love challenging art? - How does frustration lead to appreciation? A Different Perspective Complexity may deter casual readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Frustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating/) [Frustrating Surprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating-surprising-3556852/) [Gratifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratifying/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) [Shakespeare Whetting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare-whetting-3556850/) [Surprising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprising/) [Surprising Gratifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprising-gratifying-277100/) [Whetting Frustrating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whetting-frustrating-3556851/) ## Related quotes > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [My favorite job is the next one. Its such a gratifying experience getting to creatively keep trying something new and push things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/my-favorite-job-is-the-next-one-its-such-a-gratifying-experience/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [Landing substantial and author-backed roles is indeed very gratifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shamna-kasim/landing-substantial-and-author-backed-roles-is-indeed-very-gratifying/) [Shamna Kasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shamna-kasim/) > [We live in such a self-gratifying nation, and everything is instantaneous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/we-live-in-such-a-self-gratifying-nation-and-everything-is/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [If you look at the whole thing, I think the most gratifying thing is my kids, without a doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-lucid/if-you-look-at-the-whole-thing-i-think-the-most-gratifying-thing-is/) [Shannon Lucid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-lucid/) > [There's nothing more gratifying than someone coming up and saying you influenced an entire region of the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chipper-jones/there-s-nothing-more-gratifying-than-someone-coming-up-and-saying-you/) [Chipper Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chipper-jones/) > [The gratification of a thoughtless pleasure soon evaporates; the pleasure of a gratifying thought never ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cullen-hightower/the-gratification-of-a-thoughtless-pleasure-soon-evaporates-the/) [Cullen Hightower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cullen-hightower/) > [“As I know only too well, anticipation od happiness can sometimes be as gratifying as its consummation. Even during the first months of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaynor-arnold/as-i-know-only-too-well-anticipation-od-happiness-can-sometimes-be-as/) [Gaynor Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaynor-arnold/) > [It is very gratifying to see the music from 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy find a new life on the concert stage as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-shore/it-is-very-gratifying-to-see-the-music-from-the-lord-of-the-rings/) [Howard Shore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-shore/) > [I wouldn't call being a chef gratifying in a lot of ways. It's an act of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-guarnaschelli/i-wouldn-t-call-being-a-chef-gratifying-in-a-lot-of-ways-it-s-an-act/) [Alex Guarnaschelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-guarnaschelli/) > ['Miss Field' was such a gratifying experience in so many levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shibani-dandekar/miss-field-was-such-a-gratifying-experience-in-so-many-levels/) [Shibani Dandekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shibani-dandekar/) > [I'm surprised by the success of anything I do, but it's gratifying when the public approves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-basil/i-m-surprised-by-the-success-of-anything-i-do-but-it-s-gratifying/) [Toni Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-basil/) > [It was humbling to see my brothers blowing up in music while I wasn't in the public eye, but it was also gratifying, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-jonas/it-was-humbling-to-see-my-brothers-blowing-up-in-music-while-i-wasn-t/) [Kevin Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-jonas/) > [Series of movements is the bridge between exceptionally gratifying, excellent and reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/series-of-movements-is-the-bridge-between-exceptionally-gratifying/) [Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/) > [Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nothing-is-more-gratifying-to-the-mind-of-man-than-power-or-dominion/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## More by F. Scott Fitzgerald > [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“There was a ripe mystery about it, a hint of bedrooms upstairs more beautiful and cool than other bedrooms, of gay and radiant activities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-was-a-ripe-mystery-about-it-a-hint-of-bedrooms-upstairs-more/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I want you to take a red-hot bath as hot as you can bear it, and just relax your nerves. You can read in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-take-a-red-hot-bath-as-hot-as-you-can-bear-it-and-just/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Tireless passion, fierce jealousy, longing to possess and crush-these alone were left of all his love for Rosalind; these remained to him as payment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/tireless-passion-fierce-jealousy-longing-to-possess-and-crush-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [I found something! Courage--just that; courage as a rule of life and something to cling to always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-found-something-courage-just-that-courage-as-a-rule-of-life-and/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Life is a series of successful gestures...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/life-is-a-series-of-successful-gestures/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Another dawn flung itself across the river; a belated taxi hurried along the street, its lamps still shining like burning eyes in a face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/another-dawn-flung-itself-across-the-river-a-belated-taxi-hurried/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“I'm one of those people who go through the world giving other people thrills but getting few myself except those I read into men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-go-through-the-world-giving-other-people/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [The Montana sunset lay between the mountains like a giant bruise from which darkened arteries spread across a poisoned sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-montana-sunset-lay-between-the-mountains-like-a-giant-bruise-from/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“You loved me too?" he repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/you-loved-me-too-he-repeated/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“He was good looking, "sort of distinguished when he wants to be", had a line, and was properly inconstant. In fact, he summed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/he-was-good-looking-sort-of-distinguished-when-he-wants-to-be-had-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [What are you going to do? "Can't say - run for president, write -" "Greenwich Village?" "Good heavens, no - I said write -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/what-are-you-going-to-do-can-t-say-run-for-president-write-greenwich/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“The latter was considered a good fellow and a fine leader, until a year later, when he disappeared with a mess fund of eleven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-latter-was-considered-a-good-fellow-and-a-fine-leader-until-a/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/it-eluded-us-then-but-that-s-no-matter-tomorrow-we-will-run-faster/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Explore all 1,568 F. Scott Fitzgerald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More Frustrating quotes > [Fly-fishing for wild trout on quiet waters must be one of the toughest and craziest ways to catch fish ever invented by man, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-voelker/fly-fishing-for-wild-trout-on-quiet-waters-must-be-one-of-the/) [John D. Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-voelker/) > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [I always try to find a less frustrating way to look at things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/i-always-try-to-find-a-less-frustrating-way-to-look-at-things/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [It's often frustrating when you're a war reporter and you're covering these places that far away. You're frustrated by making stories that people can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rowley/it-s-often-frustrating-when-you-re-a-war-reporter-and-you-re-covering/) [Rick Rowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rowley/) > [I am a little older and understand the nature of the business - the older you get the more your skills supposedly diminish, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-am-a-little-older-and-understand-the-nature-of-the-business-the/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/) [Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/) > [I find it frustrating when people wear belts with braces. That's an interesting one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-murs/i-find-it-frustrating-when-people-wear-belts-with-braces-that-s-an/) [Olly Murs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-murs/) > [Mothers ... would do anything to steer their daughter the right way. It is frustrating beyond measure for them when a daughter screams, 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-flanagan/mothers-would-do-anything-to-steer-their-daughter-the-right-way-it-is/) [Caitlin Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-flanagan/) > [For me there is no gap between my painting and my so-called 'decorative' work. I never considered the 'minor arts' to be artistically frustrating;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-delaunay/for-me-there-is-no-gap-between-my-painting-and-my-so-called/) [Sonia Delaunay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-delaunay/) > [“I remembered what Dad said once, that some people have all of life's answers worked out the day they're born and there's no use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/i-remembered-what-dad-said-once-that-some-people-have-all-of-life-s/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [I think movies are now like going to a museum and seeing the latest exhibit - people just aren't going. It really is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-think-movies-are-now-like-going-to-a-museum-and-seeing-the-latest/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [What's frustrating to me is when, on a low-budget movie, people don't take chances. A big-budget movie, that script's your bible; nobody's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/what-s-frustrating-to-me-is-when-on-a-low-budget-movie-people-don-t/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) > [I run into a lot of ignorance and stupidity. It gets really frustrating, but you have to take yourself out of it and realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-carrera/i-run-into-a-lot-of-ignorance-and-stupidity-it-gets-really/) [Carmen Carrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-carrera/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) [Browse all 694 Frustrating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustrating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and gratifying.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "F. Scott Fitzgerald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surprising-and-gratifying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frustrating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surprising-and-gratifying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34c/f-scott-fitzgerald-72_frustrating_shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surpris_395212.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and gratifying.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald", "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": "F. Scott Fitzgerald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Shakespeare--whetting, frustrating, surprising and gratifying.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surprising-and-gratifying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/shakespeare-whetting-frustrating-surprising-and-gratifying/#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 } } ] } ```