--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do good works or commission an opera…" description: "\"“Do good works or commission an opera house or just take it out and gaze at it longingly when you think of the handsome prince you might have made your..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png" --- # Do good works or commission an opera house or just take it… ![“Do good works or commission an opera house or just take it out and gaze at it longingly when you think of the handsome prince you might have made your own. For the record, I favor the latter option, preferably paired with copious tears and the recitation of bad poetry.” quote by Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png) > ““Do good works or commission an opera house or just take it out and gaze at it longingly when you think of the handsome prince you might have made your own. For the record, I favor the latter option, preferably paired with copious tears and the recitation of bad poetry.”” [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One can either create meaningful work or indulge in passive admiration; the latter often mixes melancholy with artistic longing. **In simple terms:** Create or simply admire; both have costs. Key Takeaway Choose creation over idle longing. Themes creativity art passivity Mood melancholic inspirational Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - painting - music composition - performance art Key Concepts existentialism art criticism Questions to Reflect On - What project have you postponed for fear of failure? - How does longing shape your artistic drive? A Different Perspective Passive admiration can inspire but not fulfill. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Commission Opera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commission-opera-2386964/) [Gaze Longingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze-longingly-2354020/) [Handsome Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome-prince-547381/) [Longingly Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longingly-think-2386965/) [Nikolai-lantsov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nikolai-lantsov/) [Opera house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opera-house/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sturmhond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sturmhond/) [Think Handsome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-handsome-1703608/) ## Related quotes > [I have watched patients stand and gaze longingly toward the city they in all likelihood will never enter again. It means liberty and life;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-bly/i-have-watched-patients-stand-and-gaze-longingly-toward-the-city-they/) [Nellie Bly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-bly/) > [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“It would be a marriage in name only," Sturmhond insisted. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, he flashed Mal a taunting grin. "Except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/it-would-be-a-marriage-in-name-only-sturmhond-insisted-then-as-if-he/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You'll still make a great king." "Of course I will," he scoffed. "I'm melancholy, not daft.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-ll-still-make-a-great-king-of-course-i-will-he-scoffed-i-m/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Do you answer a question directly?" "Hard to say. Ah, there, I've done it again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/do-you-answer-a-question-directly-hard-to-say-ah-there-i-ve-done-it/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Being around Nikolai was always like this, watching him shift and change, revealing secrets as he went. He reminded me of the wooden nesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/being-around-nikolai-was-always-like-this-watching-him-shift-and/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“My mother was an oyster,” he said with a wink. “And I’m the pearl.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/my-mother-was-an-oyster-he-said-with-a-wink-and-i-m-the-pearl/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Thanks for the rescue." "Everyone needs a hobby." "I thought yours was preening." "Two hobbies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/thanks-for-the-rescue-everyone-needs-a-hobby-i-thought-yours-was/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Sturmhond had a way of talking that made me want to shoot someone. Preferably him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sturmhond-had-a-way-of-talking-that-made-me-want-to-shoot-someone/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I have so many good qualities,” Sturmhond said. “It can be hard to choose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-have-so-many-good-qualities-sturmhond-said-it-can-be-hard-to-choose/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You’re mad,” I said. “You know what he can do. No prize is worth that.” Sturmhond grinned. “That remains to be seen.” “The Darkling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-re-mad-i-said-you-know-what-he-can-do-no-prize-is-worth-that/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“And the Darkling?" "I tried to kill him." "As one does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/and-the-darkling-i-tried-to-kill-him-as-one-does/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Watch yourself, Nikolai,” Mal said softly. “Princes bleed just like other men.” Nikolai plucked an invisible piece of dust from his sleeve. “Yes,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/watch-yourself-nikolai-mal-said-softly-princes-bleed-just-like-other/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“What are you two doing barefoot and half naked in the mud?" asked a familiar voice. "Looking for truffles, I hope?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/what-are-you-two-doing-barefoot-and-half-naked-in-the-mud-asked-a/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don’t think—” “Clearly. Why start now?” Ivan’s face flushed in anger. “You don’t—” Sturmhond leaned in close, the laughter gone from his voice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-think-clearly-why-start-now-ivan-s-face-flushed-in-anger-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More by Leigh Bardugo > [“Aleksander." His eyes fluttered shut. "Don't let me be alone," he murmured. And then he was gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/aleksander-his-eyes-fluttered-shut-don-t-let-me-be-alone-he-murmured/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-don-t-care-if-you-danced-naked-on-the-roof-of-the-little-palace/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I rolled my eyes. "For defending my honor, you dullard." He yanked me beneath a shadowed awning. I had a moment's panic when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-rolled-my-eyes-for-defending-my-honor-you-dullard-he-yanked-me/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina" He said. "You and I are going to change the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-been-waiting-for-you-a-long-time-alina-he-said-you-and-i-are/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“They're all crazy, Oncat. Invisible armies, monster princes. Let's go set fire to something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/they-re-all-crazy-oncat-invisible-armies-monster-princes-let-s-go-set/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Saints!" I swore. "I forgot how often I want to stab you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/saints-i-swore-i-forgot-how-often-i-want-to-stab-you/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“I've risked my life for you. I've walked half the length of Ravka for you, and I'd do it again and again and again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/i-ve-risked-my-life-for-you-i-ve-walked-half-the-length-of-ravka-for/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“You never know," said Nikolai. "I've been busy. I might have some surprises in store for the Darkling yet." "Please tell me you plan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/you-never-know-said-nikolai-i-ve-been-busy-i-might-have-some/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Sure we do," said Theo, swatting at a branch. "We get to the spring, Alia gets cured. We argue over the best choice for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/sure-we-do-said-theo-swatting-at-a-branch-we-get-to-the-spring-alia/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“But I pushed down my confused tears and did as she asked, still hoping that whatever I’d broken might be repaired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/but-i-pushed-down-my-confused-tears-and-did-as-she-asked-still-hoping/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“There, she wrote fantastical tales that charmed children, and under another name, she penned rather more lurid works that kept her in nougat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/there-she-wrote-fantastical-tales-that-charmed-children-and-under/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Short on friends, your highness?" "And long on enemies," replied Nikolai.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/short-on-friends-your-highness-and-long-on-enemies-replied-nikolai/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Jesper knocked his head against the hull and cast his eyes heavenward. “Fine. But if Pekka Rollins kills us all, I’m going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/jesper-knocked-his-head-against-the-hull-and-cast-his-eyes-heavenward/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) [Explore all 782 Leigh Bardugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Do good works or commission an opera house or just take it out and gaze at it longingly when you think of the handsome prince you might have made your own. For the record, I favor the latter option, preferably paired with copious tears and the recitation of bad poetry.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leigh Bardugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-house-or-just-take-it-out-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Artist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-house-or-just-take-it-out-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e34/leigh-bardugo-252_artist_do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-hou_1034899.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do good works or commission an opera house or just take it out and gaze at it longingly when you think of…” — Leigh Bardugo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leigh Bardugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Do good works or commission an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-house-or-just-take-it-out-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/do-good-works-or-commission-an-opera-house-or-just-take-it-out-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```