--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In addition there is the fact that this…" description: "\"“In addition there is the fact that this girl's application in drawing seashells denotes in her a search for formal perfection which the world can and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg" --- # In addition there is the fact that this girl's application… ![“In addition there is the fact that this girl's application in drawing seashells denotes in her a search for formal perfection which the world can and therefore must attain; I, on the contrary, have been convinced for some time that perfection is not produced except marginally and by chance…” quote by Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg) > ““In addition there is the fact that this girl's application in drawing seashells denotes in her a search for formal perfection which the world can and therefore must attain; I, on the contrary, have been convinced for some time that perfection is not produced except marginally and by chance; Therefore it deserves no interest at all, the true nature of things being revealed only in disintegration.”” [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the pursuit of perfect form, arguing that true understanding emerges from decay rather than flawless creation. **In simple terms:** Perfection is less important than natural breakdown. Key Takeaway Embrace imperfection and change. Themes imperfection decay truth artistic creation Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - creative work - scientific research - personal growth - cultural critique Key Concepts philosophy aesthetics entropy Questions to Reflect On - What can we learn from disintegration? - How does imperfection shape beauty? A Different Perspective Perfection can still inspire progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Seashells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seashells/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) ## Related quotes > [Seashells remind us that every passing life leaves something beautiful behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seashells-remind-us-that-every-passing-life-leaves-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Here in the city she had gilded her nails. They shone. And she had put on a velvet dress, this soft red one, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/here-in-the-city-she-had-gilded-her-nails-they-shone-and-she-had-put/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“There was one painting, I remember, that showed a broad, clean sweep of sky and the ocean drawn out to the horizon, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/there-was-one-painting-i-remember-that-showed-a-broad-clean-sweep-of/) [lauren oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“In June we picked the clover, And sea-shells in July: There was no silence at the door, No word from the sky. A hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-day-lewis/in-june-we-picked-the-clover-and-sea-shells-in-july-there-was-no/) [Cecil Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-day-lewis/) > [“And in her ears the little Seashells, the thimble radios tamped tight, and an electronic ocean of sound, of music and talk and music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/and-in-her-ears-the-little-seashells-the-thimble-radios-tamped-tight/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Beach Rules: Soak up the sun. Ride the waves. Breathe the salty air. Feel the breeze. Build sandcastles. Rest, relax, reflect. Collect seashells. Bare-feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beach-rules-soak-up-the-sun-ride-the-waves-breathe-the-salty-air-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He circles the shrines, scanning each of them. There's one made in exclusively soft shades of pink, with a bouquet of blush roses at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-krystle/he-circles-the-shrines-scanning-each-of-them-there-s-one-made-in/) [Kiana Krystle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-krystle/) > [I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/i-have-the-world-s-largest-collection-of-seashells-i-keep-it-on-all/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [“Someday I will pick up shells of every colour And probably even rob the sea of its wonder Yet I won't find a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/someday-i-will-pick-up-shells-of-every-colour-and-probably-even-rob/) [Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/) > [“She sells seashells by the seashore. The shells she sells are surely seashells. So if she sells shells on the seashore, I'm sure she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-weber/she-sells-seashells-by-the-seashore-the-shells-she-sells-are-surely/) [Riley Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-weber/) > [My wife... its difficult to say what she does... she sells seashells on the seashore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-jones/my-wife-its-difficult-to-say-what-she-does-she-sells-seashells-on-the/) [Milton Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-jones/) > [Don't take anything too literally. When throwing a coastal theme dinner, don't just put seashells on the table. Instead, think about the colors and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah-brent/don-t-take-anything-too-literally-when-throwing-a-coastal-theme/) [Jeremiah Brent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah-brent/) > [“I made a necklace out of seashells, but I lost it at the beach. I don’t think I’ll ever find it again, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-made-a-necklace-out-of-seashells-but-i-lost-it-at-the-beach-i-don-t/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Kimme and Dan joined us as they returned from their stroll along the beach. “Look what I found,” Kimme announced as she dumped a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-s-ruff/kimme-and-dan-joined-us-as-they-returned-from-their-stroll-along-the/) [K.S. Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-s-ruff/) > [Those who look for seashells will find seashells; those who open them will find pearls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/those-who-look-for-seashells-will-find-seashells-those-who-open-them/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) ## More by Italo Calvino > [“(one would say yes, if not every day, at least fairly regularly), whether only for yourself or also for others (often only for yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/one-would-say-yes-if-not-every-day-at-least-fairly-regularly-whether/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“The Great Khan tried to concentrate on the game: but now it was the game’s reason that eluded him. The end of every game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/the-great-khan-tried-to-concentrate-on-the-game-but-now-it-was-the/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“Or else you can say, like the camel driver who took me there: "I arrived here in my first youth, one morning, many people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/or-else-you-can-say-like-the-camel-driver-who-took-me-there-i-arrived/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“The naked man had lost hope now; he would never be able to return to the earth's surface;he would never leave the bottom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/the-naked-man-had-lost-hope-now-he-would-never-be-able-to-return-to/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“The art of writing tales consists in an ability to draw the rest of life from the little one has understood of it; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/the-art-of-writing-tales-consists-in-an-ability-to-draw-the-rest-of/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“I ask you to come down to earth," said the Baron in a calm, rather faint voice, "and to take up the duties of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/i-ask-you-to-come-down-to-earth-said-the-baron-in-a-calm-rather-faint/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [The unconscious is the ocean of the unsayable, of what has been expelled from the land of language, removed as a result of ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/the-unconscious-is-the-ocean-of-the-unsayable-of-what-has-been/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“... KUBLAI: We have proved that if we were here, we would not be. POLO: And here, in fact, we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/kublai-we-have-proved-that-if-we-were-here-we-would-not-be-polo-and/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“And yet, in Raissa, at every moment there is a child in a window who laughs seeing a dog that has jumped on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/and-yet-in-raissa-at-every-moment-there-is-a-child-in-a-window-who/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“Ludmilla, now you are being read. Your body is being subjected to a systematic reading, through channels of tactile information, visual, olfactory, and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/ludmilla-now-you-are-being-read-your-body-is-being-subjected-to-a/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“Once the process of falsification is set in motion, it won't stop. We're in a country where everything that can be falsified has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/once-the-process-of-falsification-is-set-in-motion-it-won-t-stop-we/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“Your case gives me new hope," I said to him. "With me, more and more often I happen to pick up a novel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/your-case-gives-me-new-hope-i-said-to-him-with-me-more-and-more-often/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [We could say, then, that man is an instrument the world employs to renew its own image constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/we-could-say-then-that-man-is-an-instrument-the-world-employs-to/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [“Perhaps it is this story that is a bridge over the void, and as it advances it flings forward news and sensations and emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/perhaps-it-is-this-story-that-is-a-bridge-over-the-void-and-as-it/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) > [Yet, even now, ever time (often) that I find that I don't understand something, then instinctively, I'm filled with the hope that perhaps this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/yet-even-now-ever-time-often-that-i-find-that-i-don-t-understand/) [Italo Calvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) [Explore all 468 Italo Calvino quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/) ## 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": "“In addition there is the fact that this girl's application in drawing seashells denotes in her a search for formal perfection which the world can and therefore must attain; I, on the contrary, have been convinced for some time that perfection is not produced except marginally and by chance; Therefore it deserves no interest at all, the true nature of things being revealed only in disintegration.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Italo Calvino" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this-girl-s-application-in-drawing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this-girl-s-application-in-drawing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/italo-calvino-402_nature_in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this_598709.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In addition there is the fact that this girl's application in drawing seashells denotes in her a search for…” — Italo Calvino", "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": "Italo Calvino", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italo-calvino/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In addition there is the fact...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this-girl-s-application-in-drawing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italo-calvino/in-addition-there-is-the-fact-that-this-girl-s-application-in-drawing/#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 } } ] } ```