--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was odd to have something so personal…" description: "\"It was odd to have something so personal out there in that way, but the good thing about art is that no one necessarily knows what you mean by it anywa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png" --- # It was odd to have something so personal out there in that… ![“It was odd to have something so personal out there in that way, but the good thing about art is that no one necessarily knows what you mean by it anyway.” quote by Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png) > “It was odd to have something so personal out there in that way, but the good thing about art is that no one necessarily knows what you mean by it anyway.” [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art can be deeply personal yet remain ambiguous, allowing varied interpretations. **In simple terms:** Personal art stays ambiguous. Key Takeaway Embrace ambiguity in creative work. Themes creativity interpretation subjectivity Mood reflective curious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - gallery shows - social media posts - personal projects Key Concepts artistic expression personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does ambiguity affect audience connection? - When is clarity more important than mystery? A Different Perspective Audience may misinterpret or feel disconnected. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Good things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-things/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) ## Related quotes > [Everything I write is highly personal, but put in such a way that it's not dropping everything in someone's lap. 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What's to say that people can't be creative and surreal - and push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tuppence-middleton/a-lot-of-tv-can-be-linear-and-cinematic-and-formulaic-what-s-to-say/) [Tuppence Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tuppence-middleton/) > [My problem with political art is not that it's bad art necessarily, but that it is terrible politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/my-problem-with-political-art-is-not-that-it-s-bad-art-necessarily-2/) [Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/) > [In the modern world, all literary art is necessarily political -- especially that which pretends not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/in-the-modern-world-all-literary-art-is-necessarily-political/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [But all art is sensual and poetry particularly so. It is directly, that is, of the senses, and since the senses do not exist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/but-all-art-is-sensual-and-poetry-particularly-so-it-is-directly-that/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [The relationship between government and art must necessarily be a delicate one. It would not be appropriate for the government to try to define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-relationship-between-government-and-art-must-necessarily-be-a/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [What I particularly liked was that, coming from California and not being involved in the New York scene, I developed my personal way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-ritts/what-i-particularly-liked-was-that-coming-from-california-and-not/) [Herb Ritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-ritts/) > [It's a sort of philosophy you cook up for yourself. You probably write things the same as everybody else, but it's your own personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-capaldi/it-s-a-sort-of-philosophy-you-cook-up-for-yourself-you-probably-write/) [Jim Capaldi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-capaldi/) > [Writing is always personal in some way but not always in a direct way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-vega/writing-is-always-personal-in-some-way-but-not-always-in-a-direct-way/) [Suzanne Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-vega/) > [I think you have to have a personal connection, and that's what I am always looking to try to create: a personal way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-walton-hamilton/i-think-you-have-to-have-a-personal-connection-and-that-s-what-i-am/) [Emma Walton Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-walton-hamilton/) ## More by Gabrielle Zevin > [“He didn't break my heart. No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [People are capable of great, great change during the span of one lifetime. And women even more than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/people-are-capable-of-great-great-change-during-the-span-of-one/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [He kissed me, though not in a sexy way. Gentle. Tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-kissed-me-though-not-in-a-sexy-way-gentle-tender/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Daddy always said the only thing worth begging for was your life, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe sometimes your love is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/daddy-always-said-the-only-thing-worth-begging-for-was-your-life-but/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“I am repulsed by ghostwritten novels by reality television stars, celebrity picture books, sports memoirs, movie tie-in editions, novelty items, and—I imagine this goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-am-repulsed-by-ghostwritten-novels-by-reality-television-stars/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I wish I could tell you to always follow your heart, but I think it is bad advice. You have a heart, yes, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wish-i-could-tell-you-to-always-follow-your-heart-but-i-think-it-is/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“It is a lie that you should only speak from your heart- you ought to let your brain play a part too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-is-a-lie-that-you-should-only-speak-from-your-heart-you-ought-to/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [I wondered if the person who really loves you is the person who knows all your stories, the person who WANTS to know all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-wondered-if-the-person-who-really-loves-you-is-the-person-who-knows/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Most people's problems would be solved if they would only give more things a chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/most-people-s-problems-would-be-solved-if-they-would-only-give-more/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“It is lucky, she thinks, that we don’t feel all the love inside us every moment. We couldn’t breathe or walk or eat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-is-lucky-she-thinks-that-we-don-t-feel-all-the-love-inside-us/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Real love' is not just instinct, but intent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/real-love-is-not-just-instinct-but-intent/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Hi there," squeaked a precocious little voice, "you are speaking to Chloe Fusakawa, and I have just learned how to answer the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/hi-there-squeaked-a-precocious-little-voice-you-are-speaking-to-chloe/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“Well, I’m warning you. I could be a bad book with a good jacket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/well-i-m-warning-you-i-could-be-a-bad-book-with-a-good-jacket/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“A place ain’t a place without a bookstore,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/a-place-ain-t-a-place-without-a-bookstore/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) [Explore all 425 Gabrielle Zevin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. 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You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“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 > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was odd to have something so personal out there in that way, but the good thing about art is that no one necessarily knows what you mean by it anyway.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gabrielle Zevin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal-out-there-in-that-way-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal-out-there-in-that-way-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/607/gabrielle-zevin-626_art_it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal_2403741.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was odd to have something so personal out there in that way, but the good thing about art is that no one…” — Gabrielle Zevin", "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": "Gabrielle Zevin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was odd to have something...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal-out-there-in-that-way-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/it-was-odd-to-have-something-so-personal-out-there-in-that-way-but/#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 } } ] } ```