Art Quote by Joyce Carol Oates
“I believe that the creative impulse is natural in all human beings, and that it is particularly powerful in children unless it is suppressed. Consequently, one is behaving normally and instinctively and healthily when one is creating - literature, art, music, or whatever. An excellent cook is also creative! I am disturbed that a natural human inclination [creative work] should, by some Freudian turn of phrase, be considered compulsive - perhaps even pathological. To me this is a complete misreading of the human enterprise. One should also enjoy one's work, and look forward to it daily.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Creative Impulse, 1995
Creativity is an innate human trait, especially vivid in children, and should be embraced rather than pathologized.
In simple terms: Creativity is natural and healthy.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate and enjoy creative activities.
Themes
creativity
human nature
education
Mood
reflective
optimistic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- teaching
- parenting
- art workshops
- culinary arts
- personal projects
Key Concepts
psychology
development
freud
misreading
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we protect creative expression in schools?
- What habits nurture daily creativity?
A Different Perspective
Creative drive can be stifled by cultural or institutional pressures.
