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Inspirational Quote by Susanna Clarke

“It may be laid down as a general rule that if a man begins to sing, no one will take notice of this except his fellow human being. This is true even if his song is surpassingly beautiful. Other men may be in raptures at this skill, but the rest of creation is, by and large, unmoved.” quote by Susanna Clarke
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““It may be laid down as a general rule that if a man begins to sing, no one will take notice of this except his fellow human being. This is true even if his song is surpassingly beautiful. Other men may be in raptures at this skill, but the rest of creation is, by and large, unmoved.””

Susanna Clarke

About This Quote

Source Novel: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, 2004

The passage suggests that personal artistic expression often goes unnoticed by the world, even if beautiful, while others may be captivated.

In simple terms: Art can be ignored by most, even if wonderful.

Key Takeaway

Share art regardless of audience.

Themes

art recognition human perception

Mood

reflective melancholic

Type

observational philosophical

When to use this quote

  • public performances
  • personal creative practice
  • teaching art
  • media coverage
  • cultural criticism

Key Concepts

aesthetics subjectivity social attention

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do some creations stay unnoticed?
  • What determines whether art moves people?
A Different Perspective

Even beautiful art may not move the broader world.

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