Absent Quote by Jacques Barzun
“The eager or dutiful persons who subject themselves to these tidal waves of the classics and the moderns find everything wonderful in an absent-minded way. The wonder washes over them rather than into them, and one of its effects is to make anything shocking or odd suddenly interesting enough to gain a month's celebrity. And so another by-product of our come-one, come-all policy is the tendency to reward cleverness, not art, and to put one more hurdle in the path of the truly original artist.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Essays on the Novel, Jacques Barzun, 1955
Immersing in both classic and modern works can make the extraordinary seem ordinary, while novelty becomes fleeting fame, and cleverness is rewarded over true originality.
In simple terms: Reading widely can dull wonder and favor cleverness over genuine art.
Key Takeaway
Seek depth, not just novelty.
Themes
literature
culture
creativity
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
observational
When to use this quote
- academic study
- personal reading
- creative work
Key Concepts
canon
modernism
originality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does constant exposure to new ideas affect your perception of originality?
- Do you value cleverness over authentic creativity?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on novelty may stifle true artistic innovation.
