--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good artists exist simply in what they…" description: "\"“Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. A great poet, a really great poet, is the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/oscar-wilde-16_art_good-artists-exist-simply-in-what-they-m_867680.jpg" --- # Good artists exist simply in what they make, and… ![“Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. A great poet, a really great poet, is the most unpoetical of all creatures. But inferior poets are absolutely fascinating. The worse their rhymes are, the more picturesque they look. The…” quote by Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/oscar-wilde-16_art_good-artists-exist-simply-in-what-they-m_867680.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/oscar-wilde-16_art_good-artists-exist-simply-in-what-they-m_867680.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f60/oscar-wilde-16_art_good-artists-exist-simply-in-what-they-m_867680.jpg) > ““Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. A great poet, a really great poet, is the most unpoetical of all creatures. But inferior poets are absolutely fascinating. The worse their rhymes are, the more picturesque they look. The mere fact of having published a book of second-rate sonnets makes a man quite irresistible. He lives the poetry that he cannot write. The others write the poetry that they dare not realize.”” [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts the allure of mediocrity with the uninteresting nature of true artistic greatness, suggesting that fame for lesser work can be more compelling than genuine talent. **In simple terms:** Great artists are uninteresting; mediocre work is fascinating. Key Takeaway Recognize that fame can stem from mediocrity. Themes art fame mediocrity authenticity perception Mood ironic reflective critical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - publishing - literary criticism - social media influence - career building Key Concepts celebrity culture the paradox of talent social validation Questions to Reflect On - Why do we celebrate mediocre creators? - How does fame affect artistic authenticity? A Different Perspective It may overlook the value of true artistic depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Good art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-art/) [Great poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-poet/) [Inferior Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inferior-poets-322418/) [Poet Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-really-322421/) [Poet Unpoetical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet-unpoetical-322419/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Poets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poets/) ## Related quotes > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“The only artists I have ever known who are personally delightful are bad artists. Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-artists-i-have-ever-known-who-are-personally-delightful-are-4/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [A great poet, a really great poet, is the most unpoetical of all creatures. But inferior poets are absolutely fascinating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-great-poet-a-really-great-poet-is-the-most-unpoetical-of-all/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“A great poet, a really great poet, is the most unpoetical of creatures. But inferior poets are absolutely fascinating. The worse their rhymes are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/a-great-poet-a-really-great-poet-is-the-most-unpoetical-of-creatures/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. A great poet, a really great poet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/good-artists-exist-simply-in-what-they-make-and-consequently-are-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The only artists I have ever known who are personally delightful are bad artists. Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-artists-i-have-ever-known-who-are-personally-delightful-are-2/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Dear Producers, Something is radiating deep within me and it must be transmitted or I will implode and the world will suffer a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/dear-producers-something-is-radiating-deep-within-me-and-it-must-be/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [Do you know what constitutes a great poet? He is a person without shame, incapable of blushing. Ordinary fools have moments when they go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/do-you-know-what-constitutes-a-great-poet-he-is-a-person-without/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [“Superior poets say what they really feel. Mediocre poets say what they decide to feel. Inferior poets say what they think they should feel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lvaro-de-campos/superior-poets-say-what-they-really-feel-mediocre-poets-say-what-they/) [Álvaro de Campos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lvaro-de-campos/) > [“A poet is the most unpoetical of anything in existence because he has no identity-he is continually infirming and filling some other body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-poet-is-the-most-unpoetical-of-anything-in-existence-because-he-has/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [I cant look at things in the simple, large way that great poets do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-rosenberg/i-cant-look-at-things-in-the-simple-large-way-that-great-poets-do/) [Isaac Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-rosenberg/) > [All great poets have been men of great knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/all-great-poets-have-been-men-of-great-knowledge/) [William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/) > [The way a great poet takes an idea, small like the bud of a flower and makes it bloom. And makes you feel deeply..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/the-way-a-great-poet-takes-an-idea-small-like-the-bud-of-a-flower-and/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“I watched him, sardonic, cynical. A great poet, truly, yet unkind. The gifts of our nature seem not to modify the manner of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-watched-him-sardonic-cynical-a-great-poet-truly-yet-unkind-the/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Great Poets discover themselves. Little Poets have to be 'discovered' by somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-corelli/great-poets-discover-themselves-little-poets-have-to-be-discovered-by/) [Marie Corelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-corelli/) ## More by Oscar Wilde > [How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/how-else-but-through-a-broken-heart-may-lord-christ-enter-in/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The books that the world calls immoral are the books that show the world its own shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-books-that-the-world-calls-immoral-are-the-books-that-show-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/bachelors-should-be-heavily-taxed-it-is-not-fair-that-some-men-should/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Who, being loved, is poor?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/who-being-loved-is-poor/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Basil my dear boy puts everything that is charming in him into his work. The consequence is that he has nothing left for life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/basil-my-dear-boy-puts-everything-that-is-charming-in-him-into-his/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Anybody can be good in the country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/anybody-can-be-good-in-the-country/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I don't at all like knowing what people say of me behind my back. It makes me far too conceited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-at-all-like-knowing-what-people-say-of-me-behind-my-back-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Alles Populäre ist falsch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/alles-popul-re-ist-falsch/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“If these elements of beauty are real, the whole thing simply appeals to our sense of dramatic effect. Suddenly we find that we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-these-elements-of-beauty-are-real-the-whole-thing-simply-appeals/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [To love one's self is the beginning of a life-long romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/to-love-one-s-self-is-the-beginning-of-a-life-long-romance/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/those-who-find-beautiful-meanings-in-beautiful-things-are-the/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Men always want to be a womans first love. Women have a more subtle instinct: What they like is to be a mans last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/men-always-want-to-be-a-womans-first-love-women-have-a-more-subtle/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Moderation is a fatal thing. Enough is as bad as a meal. More than enough is as good as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/moderation-is-a-fatal-thing-enough-is-as-bad-as-a-meal-more-than/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm. Philosophies fall away like sand, creeds follow one another, but what is beautiful is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/beauty-is-the-only-thing-that-time-cannot-harm-philosophies-fall-away/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) [Explore all 3,343 Oscar Wilde quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More Art quotes > [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/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [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/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“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/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [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 only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [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/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Good artists exist simply in what they make, and consequently are perfectly uninteresting in what they are. 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