Art Quote by Laura Riding
“Emile Saint-Blague had been a lively, versatile painter in his youth, but he had abused his energy by painting too many pictures; so that in what might have been the ripe period of his art he had nothing left but ideas. A man who has nothing left but ideas may be of great service to his friends, but he is of no use at all to himself. Emile was certainly an inspiration to his friends.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Collected Poems of Laura Riding, 1955
Excessive output can deplete creative energy, leaving only ideas that benefit others but not oneself.
In simple terms: Too much work drains personal usefulness.
Key Takeaway
Balance creation with rest.
Themes
creativity
balance
self‑care
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
advisory
When to use this quote
- artist burnout
- project overload
- personal development
Key Concepts
energy depletion
idea generation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you know when to pause?
- What limits does over‑producing set?
A Different Perspective
Ideas alone cannot sustain personal growth.
![“She [Venison] had never travelled and so could invent all kinds of strange places without being limited, as travelled people are, by knowledge of certain places only.” quote by Laura Riding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c12/laura-riding-9995_all-kinds_she-venison-had-never-travelled-and-so-c_607803.jpg)
