Art Quote by John Burroughs
“Science is a capital or fund perpetually reinvested; it accumulates, rolls up, is carried forward by every new man. Every man of science has all the science before him to go upon, to set himself up in business with. What an enormous sum Darwin availed himself of and reinvested! Not so in literature; to every poet, to every artist, it is still the first day of creation, so far as the essentials of his task are concerned. Literature is not so much a fund to be reinvested as it is a crop to be ever new-grown.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Science of Literature, 1905
Science builds on past knowledge like a fund, while art constantly recreates itself anew.
In simple terms: Science adds to existing knowledge; art constantly starts fresh.
Key Takeaway
Treat science as cumulative, art as ever‑new.
Themes
knowledge
creation
growth
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
essay
philosophical
When to use this quote
- research projects
- artistic endeavors
- education
- innovation
Key Concepts
cumulative learning
originality
Questions to Reflect On
- Can art ever be truly cumulative?
- How does this view affect interdisciplinary work?
A Different Perspective
Art may lack the efficiency of scientific progress.
