Art Quote by Victor Hugo
“As for the author, he is profoundly unaware of what the classical or romantic genre might consist of… In literature, as in allthings, there is only the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the true and the false.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, 1862
The author claims ignorance of genre boundaries, asserting that literature reduces to fundamental dualities of good versus bad, beauty versus ugliness, truth versus falsehood.
In simple terms: Literature is about basic opposites, not genre.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and explore the core dualities in art.
Themes
art
philosophy
literature
duality
truth
beauty
Mood
contemplative
analytical
Type
critical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- art criticism
- teaching literature
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
Aesthetic judgment
binary thinking
genre theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you see genre influencing your perception of a work?
- Can you find beauty in the 'bad' aspects of a piece?
A Different Perspective
Genres can enrich understanding beyond simple binaries.
