--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It matters little if something is 'craft'…" description: "\"It matters little if something is 'craft' or 'art.' The question is only this: does it give me pleasure?\" — Walter Darby Bannard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png" --- # It matters little if something is 'craft' or 'art.' The… ![“It matters little if something is 'craft' or 'art.' The question is only this: does it give me pleasure?” quote by Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png) > “It matters little if something is 'craft' or 'art.' The question is only this: does it give me pleasure?” [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The value of a work lies in the pleasure it provides, not in its classification as craft or art. **In simple terms:** Pleasure defines value, not labels. Key Takeaway Seek enjoyment in what you create. Themes aesthetics subjectivity valuation Mood reflective contemplative Type thoughtful philosophical When to use this quote - personal creation - consumer experience - art criticism - design practice Key Concepts philosophy of art hedonism Questions to Reflect On - What brings you joy in your work? - How do you balance personal pleasure with audience expectations? A Different Perspective Pleasure is subjective and may not align with cultural standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft/) [Craft Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/craft-art-790937/) [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-pleasure-1577244/) [Give me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give-me/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matters Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matters-little-472500/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [Without craft, art remains private. Without art, craft is merely hackwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/without-craft-art-remains-private-without-art-craft-is-merely-hackwork/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [Art is craft: all art is always and essentially a work of craft: but in the true work of art, before the craft and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/art-is-craft-all-art-is-always-and-essentially-a-work-of-craft-but-in/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [We have something that is unique. We have our craft. We have our art. We have our desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branford-marsalis/we-have-something-that-is-unique-we-have-our-craft-we-have-our-art-we/) [Branford Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branford-marsalis/) > [“Work your craft; until it becomes an art form.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/work-your-craft-until-it-becomes-an-art-form/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [“Your work is what you really care about because your work is your craft and your craft is your art”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/your-work-is-what-you-really-care-about-because-your-work-is-your/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Does is make the dragon happy?" Matt asked. "Does is make the dragon happy?" echoed Tam Lin. "Why, I never thought of that. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-farmer/does-is-make-the-dragon-happy-matt-asked-does-is-make-the-dragon/) [Nancy Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-farmer/) > [The average man does not get pleasure out of an idea because he thinks it is true; he thinks it is true because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-average-man-does-not-get-pleasure-out-of-an-idea-because-he/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Shouldn't atheist have an equal obligation to explain pleasure in a world of randomness. Where does pleasure come from?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/shouldn-t-atheist-have-an-equal-obligation-to-explain-pleasure-in-a/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Anyone who's a chef, who loves food, ultimately knows that all that matters is: 'Is it good? Does it give pleasure?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/anyone-who-s-a-chef-who-loves-food-ultimately-knows-that-all-that/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [I don’t regret for a single moment having lived for pleasure. I did it to the full, as one should do everything that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-don-t-regret-for-a-single-moment-having-lived-for-pleasure-i-did-it/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Craft and art and discipline in what you do will make you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-jayne/craft-and-art-and-discipline-in-what-you-do-will-make-you-happy/) [Erika Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-jayne/) > [Writing is a craft not an art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/writing-is-a-craft-not-an-art/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [I love well-produced stuff. The craft and the art of production is something I really, really love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-conte/i-love-well-produced-stuff-the-craft-and-the-art-of-production-is/) [Jack Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-conte/) > [It is by losing himself in the objective, in inquiry, creation, and craft, that a man becomes something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-goodman/it-is-by-losing-himself-in-the-objective-in-inquiry-creation-and/) [Paul Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-goodman/) > [All the craft skills that I have, I feel like I developed and honed in drama school. It's the most important thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-holland/all-the-craft-skills-that-i-have-i-feel-like-i-developed-and-honed-in/) [Andre Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-holland/) ## More by Walter Darby Bannard > [The more freedom artists have to do what they want to do, the more they do what other artists are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/the-more-freedom-artists-have-to-do-what-they-want-to-do-the-more/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [There are too many artists, too many dealers and too much art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/there-are-too-many-artists-too-many-dealers-and-too-much-art/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Start a painting with fresh ideas, and then let the painting replace your ideas with its ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/start-a-painting-with-fresh-ideas-and-then-let-the-painting-replace/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [The struggle to be original hates conformity, but the struggle to be better disregards it, or takes advantage of it to build workable conventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/the-struggle-to-be-original-hates-conformity-but-the-struggle-to-be/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [There is no best way to make art, but there are a lot of better ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/there-is-no-best-way-to-make-art-but-there-are-a-lot-of-better-ways/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Of course I will look at anything, but I have not got the time or the patience to keep on looking at art that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/of-course-i-will-look-at-anything-but-i-have-not-got-the-time-or-the/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Too much freedom inhibits choice. Constructive narrowness clarifies choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/too-much-freedom-inhibits-choice-constructive-narrowness-clarifies/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Talent is like a seed which needs fertile soil. There is no less talent now, there is less fertile soil to nourish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/talent-is-like-a-seed-which-needs-fertile-soil-there-is-no-less/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Live to paint, don't paint to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/live-to-paint-don-t-paint-to-live/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Good new art may not look like art. Inspiration doesn't follow style, it creates it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/good-new-art-may-not-look-like-art-inspiration-doesn-t-follow-style/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [There is no regional art. The only region left is the art magazine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/there-is-no-regional-art-the-only-region-left-is-the-art-magazine/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [There's a big difference between grabbing attention and rewarding attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/there-s-a-big-difference-between-grabbing-attention-and-rewarding/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [Part of history is facts. The other part is what we find easier to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/part-of-history-is-facts-the-other-part-is-what-we-find-easier-to/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [When good ideas get put to bad use, it is the fault of the user, not the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/when-good-ideas-get-put-to-bad-use-it-is-the-fault-of-the-user-not/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) > [The power of art is not in communication but effect; what it does, not what it relates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/the-power-of-art-is-not-in-communication-but-effect-what-it-does-not/) [Walter Darby Bannard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) [Explore all 98 Walter Darby Bannard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/) ## 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": "It matters little if something is 'craft' or 'art.' The question is only this: does it give me pleasure?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter Darby Bannard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft-or-art-the-question-is-only/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft-or-art-the-question-is-only/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07d/walter-darby-bannard-6715_art_it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft_937588.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It matters little if something is 'craft' or 'art.' The question is only this: does it give me pleasure?” — Walter Darby Bannard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Walter Darby Bannard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-darby-bannard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It matters little if something is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft-or-art-the-question-is-only/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-darby-bannard/it-matters-little-if-something-is-craft-or-art-the-question-is-only/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```