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Art Quote by Oscar Wilde

“In his very rejection of art Walt Whitman is an artist. He tried to produce a certain effect by certain means and he succeeded…He stands apart, and the chief value of his work is in its prophecy, not in its performance. He has begun a prelude to larger themes. He is the herald to a new era. As a…” quote by Oscar Wilde
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“In his very rejection of art Walt Whitman is an artist. He tried to produce a certain effect by certain means and he succeeded…He stands apart, and the chief value of his work is in its prophecy, not in its performance. He has begun a prelude to larger themes. He is the herald to a new era. As a man he is the precursor of a fresh type. He is a factor in the heroic and spiritual evolution of the human being. If Poetry has passed him by, Philosophy will take note of him.”

Oscar Wilde

About This Quote

Source Essay: "The Aesthetic of the Artist", 1890

Whitman's art is prophetic, not merely performative; he heralds a new spiritual era and influences human evolution.

In simple terms: Whitman's work predicts future spiritual growth.

Key Takeaway

Embrace art that inspires change.

Themes

art prophecy spiritual evolution

Mood

inspirational thoughtful

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • literary criticism
  • education
  • creative inspiration

Key Concepts

future vision cultural impact human development

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does prophetic art shape society?
  • What role does poetry play in spiritual growth?
A Different Perspective

Art may be misunderstood or ignored.

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