Accepted Quote by John Drinkwater
“There can be no proof that Blake's lyric is composed of the best words in the best order; only a conviction, accepted by our knowledge and judgment, that it is so.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Poetry, 1915
The quote argues that artistic excellence cannot be proven objectively; it relies on a shared belief in its quality.
In simple terms: Artistic value is based on belief, not proof.
Key Takeaway
Trust the collective judgment of art.
Themes
art
subjectivity
belief
Mood
contemplative
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- art education
- museum curation
- creative writing workshops
Key Concepts
aesthetic judgment
conviction
cultural consensus
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we decide what is "best" in art?
- Can consensus replace objective standards?
A Different Perspective
Proof of quality is elusive; tastes differ across cultures.
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
![“I was in a conversation and someone said: "You know, we were talking about the whole issue of transgender and how it has become so accepted now, and somebody said, 'You know the Oprah show, I think has had a big impact.'" I said, I don't think so. We did several transgender [shows], but we didn't…” quote by Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd3/oprah-winfrey-186_accepted_i-was-in-a-conversation-and-someone-said_25645.jpg)
