--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eleanor was right. She never looked nice…" description: "\"Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.\" — Rai..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/rainbow-rowell-135_art_eleanor-was-right-she-never-looked-nice_2405990.jpg" --- # Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like… ![“Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” quote by Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/rainbow-rowell-135_art_eleanor-was-right-she-never-looked-nice_2405990.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/rainbow-rowell-135_art_eleanor-was-right-she-never-looked-nice_2405990.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b4/rainbow-rowell-135_art_eleanor-was-right-she-never-looked-nice_2405990.jpg) > “Eleanor was right. She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## 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 suggests that true art should not aim to be pleasant but to provoke feeling, emphasizing authenticity over aesthetic appeal. **In simple terms:** Art is meant to stir emotions, not just look nice. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that move you emotionally rather than just please you. Themes art authenticity emotion beauty perception Mood reflective provocative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - gallery visits - reading literature - listening to music - creating personal art Key Concepts Aesthetic theory emotional resonance subjective value Questions to Reflect On - What piece of art has made you feel something profound? - Do you prefer beauty that comforts or challenges? A Different Perspective Some may argue that beauty can also be meaningful, and not all art needs to be uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Eleanor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eleanor/) [Eleanor Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eleanor-right-6040365/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Like Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-art/) [Looked Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-like/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Supposed Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-look-330598/) [Wasn Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasn-supposed-310493/) ## Related quotes > [“Art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/art-wasn-t-supposed-to-look-nice-it-was-supposed-to-make-you-feel/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She never looked nice.She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-park-rainbow-rowell/she-never-looked-nice-she-looked-like-art-and-art-wasn-t-supposed-to/) [Eleanor Park - Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-park-rainbow-rowell/) > [“He'd stopped trying to bring her back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-d-stopped-trying-to-bring-her-back/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [You think that holding someone hard will bring them closer. You think that you can hold them so hard that you'll still feel them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-think-that-holding-someone-hard-will-bring-them-closer-you-think-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Holding Eleanor’s hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive. As soon as he touched her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/holding-eleanor-s-hand-was-like-holding-a-butterfly-or-a-heartbeat-2/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [For the first time in weeks, Park didn't have that anxious feeling in his stomach on the way home from school, like he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/for-the-first-time-in-weeks-park-didn-t-have-that-anxious-feeling-in/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I miss you, Eleanor. I want to be with you all the time. You’re the smartest girl I’ve ever met, and the funniest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/i-miss-you-eleanor-i-want-to-be-with-you-all-the-time-you-re-the/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [He wound the scarf around his fingers until her hand was hanging in the space between them. Then he slid the silk and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-wound-the-scarf-around-his-fingers-until-her-hand-was-hanging-in/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Eleanor's hair caught fire at dawn. Her eyes were dark and shining, and his arms were sure of her. The first time he touched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/eleanor-s-hair-caught-fire-at-dawn-her-eyes-were-dark-and-shining-and/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Don't bite his face, Eleanor told herself. It's disturbing and needy and never happens in situation comedies or movies that end with big kisses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/don-t-bite-his-face-eleanor-told-herself-it-s-disturbing-and-needy/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [He wished that they could go through life like this. That he could physically put himself between Eleanor and the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-wished-that-they-could-go-through-life-like-this-that-he-could/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [All through first and second and third hour, Eleanor rubbed her palm. Nothing happened. How could it be possible that there were that many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/all-through-first-and-second-and-third-hour-eleanor-rubbed-her-palm/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [Holding Eleanor's hand was like holding a butterfly. Or a heartbeat. Like holding something complete, and completely alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/holding-eleanor-s-hand-was-like-holding-a-butterfly-or-a-heartbeat/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“The world turned itself into a better place around him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/the-world-turned-itself-into-a-better-place-around-him/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [You know?" he repeated. She smiled, so he kissed her. "You're not the Han Solo in this relationship, you know." "I'm totally the Han…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-know-he-repeated-she-smiled-so-he-kissed-her-you-re-not-the-han/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## More by Rainbow Rowell > [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. 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That would be awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/maybe-park-had-paralyzed-her-with-his-ninja-magic-his-vulcan-handhold/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She wouldn't pick up a fight him just because she was bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-wouldn-t-pick-up-a-fight-him-just-because-she-was-bored/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“That person thought that wearing an ugly dress on the happiest day of someone else's life was just the beginning-the line you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/that-person-thought-that-wearing-an-ugly-dress-on-the-happiest-day-of/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Is this where you tell me that I'm a scoundrel, and I say that I think you like me because I'm a scoundrel? Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/is-this-where-you-tell-me-that-i-m-a-scoundrel-and-i-say-that-i-think/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Te informo de que mi respuesta a tus próximas doce afirmaciones va a ser: «¿Cómo dices?»”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/te-informo-de-que-mi-respuesta-a-tus-pr-ximas-doce-afirmaciones-va-a/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Dude. Let it go. Good riddance to bad rubbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/dude-let-it-go-good-riddance-to-bad-rubbers/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [He looked exactly like a rat. Like the human being version of a rat. Like the villain in a Don Bluth movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/he-looked-exactly-like-a-rat-like-the-human-being-version-of-a-rat/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Tell me more about the mountains, Georgie said, because she wasn't really sure what to ask. Because ' tell me where I went wrong'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/tell-me-more-about-the-mountains-georgie-said-because-she-wasn-t/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [God, his chin. She wanted to make an honest woman of his chin. She wanted to lock it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/god-his-chin-she-wanted-to-make-an-honest-woman-of-his-chin-she/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Wait, I really do need your help with this." He turned his computer monitor toward her and pointed. "Is this funny? It's a Snoopy/Snoop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/wait-i-really-do-need-your-help-with-this-he-turned-his-computer/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“You need to cool down first.” “I’m cool.” “Simon. You’re never cool.” “That hurts, Penny.” “It shouldn’t. It’s one of the reasons I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-need-to-cool-down-first-i-m-cool-simon-you-re-never-cool-that/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“She'd get out of the shower the next morning, and it would be written in the steam on the mirror. Dance. Dress. Try a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/she-d-get-out-of-the-shower-the-next-morning-and-it-would-be-written/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) [Explore all 1,108 Rainbow Rowell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) ## 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. 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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. 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