Agony Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“Perhaps it would have been possible to see in him a new Prometheus...the hero who for the good of mankind exposes himself to the agonies of the damned...undaunted by failure, by an unceasing effort of courage holding despair at bay, doggedly persistent in the face of self-doubt, which is the artist's bitterest enemy...”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1915
An artist endures suffering for humanity, persisting despite doubt and despair.
In simple terms: Artists suffer for humanity, staying brave despite fear.
Key Takeaway
Embrace perseverance in creative struggle.
Themes
art
courage
suffering
humanity
perseverance
Mood
reflective
inspirational
somber
Type
philosophical
motivational
literary
When to use this quote
- creative work
- personal crises
- mental health
- social activism
- education
Key Concepts
existentialism
self‑sacrifice
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- What costs does relentless dedication exact?
- Can self‑sacrifice become self‑destruction?
A Different Perspective
The idealized hero may overlook personal limits and burnout.
![“In [David] Douglas's success in life ... his great activity, undaunted courage, singular abstemiousness, and energetic zeal, at once pointed him out as an individual eminently calculated to do himself credit as a scientific traveler.” quote by Joseph Dalton Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/758/joseph-dalton-hooker-39139_courage_in-david-douglas-s-success-in-life-his-g_1442173.jpg)
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
