Books Quote by Julio Cortazar
“Nothing is more comical than seriousness understood as a virtue that has to precede all important literature”
About This Quote
Source Essay: On the Nature of Seriousness, Julio Cortazar, 1970
Seriousness taken as a virtue can become absurd, undermining the value of important literature.
In simple terms: Taking seriousness too seriously makes it comic.
Key Takeaway
Question the role of seriousness in art.
Themes
art
literature
seriousness
absurdity
Mood
reflective
ironic
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- teaching
- creative critique
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humor affect literary seriousness?
- When is seriousness essential?
A Different Perspective
Seriousness may still be necessary for depth.
![“The best literature is always a take [in the musical sense]; there is an implicit risk in its execution, a margin of danger that is the pleasure of the flight, of the love, carrying with it a tangible loss but also a total engagement that, on another level, lends the theater its unparalleled…” quote by Julio Cortazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0d/julio-cort-zar-698_books_the-best-literature-is-always-a-take-in_174639.jpg)
