--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All art constantly aspires towards the…" description: "\"“ All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music. For while in all other kinds of art it is possible to distinguish the matter from the form..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/walter-pater-9808_art_all-art-constantly-aspires-towards-the-c_1469589.jpg" --- # All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music… ![“All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music. For while in all other kinds of art it is possible to distinguish the matter from the form, and the understanding can always make this distinction, yet it is the constant effort of art to obliterate it. That the mere matter of a poem, for…” quote by Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/walter-pater-9808_art_all-art-constantly-aspires-towards-the-c_1469589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/walter-pater-9808_art_all-art-constantly-aspires-towards-the-c_1469589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/663/walter-pater-9808_art_all-art-constantly-aspires-towards-the-c_1469589.jpg) > ““ All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music. For while in all other kinds of art it is possible to distinguish the matter from the form, and the understanding can always make this distinction, yet it is the constant effort of art to obliterate it. That the mere matter of a poem, for instance, its subject, namely, its given incidents or situation—that the mere matter of a picture, the actual circumstances of an event, the actual topography of a landscape—should be nothing without the form, the spirit, of the handling, that this form, this mode of handling, should become an end in itself, should penetrate every part of the matter: this is what all art constantly strives after, and achieves in different degrees.”” [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art strives to dissolve the boundary between content and form, aiming for a unity where the medium itself becomes the essence. **In simple terms:** Art seeks unity of form and content like music. Key Takeaway Pursue artistic integration. Themes art music form content aesthetics Mood contemplative inspired analytical Type critical philosophical theoretical When to use this quote - painting - poetry - music composition - literary analysis Key Concepts aesthetic theory formalist critique artistic unity Questions to Reflect On - Can art be both form and content? - What is lost when form dominates? A Different Perspective Achieving total unity may sacrifice clarity of message. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Constantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-constantly-1830098/) [Kinds Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinds-art-2363603/) [Matter Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-art-352711/) [Matter Poem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-poem-5319497/) [Mere Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mere-matter-1800172/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Sublime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sublime/) ## Related quotes > [That the mere matter of a poem, for instance--its subject, its given incidents or situation; that the mere matter of a picture--the actual circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/that-the-mere-matter-of-a-poem-for-instance-its-subject-its-given/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [All art constantly aspires to the condition of music…In its ideal, consummate moments, the end is not distinct from the means, the form from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/all-art-constantly-aspires-to-the-condition-of-music-in-its-ideal/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [All art constantly aspires towards the condition of music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/all-art-constantly-aspires-towards-the-condition-of-music/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [In solitude we are in the presence of mere matter (even the sky, the stars, the moon, trees in blossom), things of less value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/in-solitude-we-are-in-the-presence-of-mere-matter-even-the-sky-the/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [The universe is more than mere matter in motion. It and we were brought into being by a Creator who seeks our good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/the-universe-is-more-than-mere-matter-in-motion-it-and-we-were/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) > [The universal nature has no external space; but the wondrous part of her art is that though she has circumscribed herself, everything which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-universal-nature-has-no-external-space-but-the-wondrous-part-of/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [The subject matter of art is life, life as it actually is; but the function of art is to make life better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/the-subject-matter-of-art-is-life-life-as-it-actually-is-but-the/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Art is not a pleasure, a solace, or an amusement; art is a great matter. 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I mean, I love sketching and acting and music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amandla-stenberg/i-love-all-kinds-of-art-i-mean-i-love-sketching-and-acting-and-music/) [Amandla Stenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amandla-stenberg/) > [As all Art depends on Vision, so the different kinds of Art depend on the different ways in which minds look at things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-henry-lewes/as-all-art-depends-on-vision-so-the-different-kinds-of-art-depend-on/) [George Henry Lewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-henry-lewes/) > [But I am a lover of all kinds of art. And I just can't stick to one thing. I guess I could if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-benjamin/but-i-am-a-lover-of-all-kinds-of-art-and-i-just-can-t-stick-to-one/) [Andre Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-benjamin/) > [“Pestsov maintained that art is one, and that it can attai its highest mainfestation only in conjunction with all kinds of art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/pestsov-maintained-that-art-is-one-and-that-it-can-attai-its-highest/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Exposing yourself to many kinds of art can only lead to amazing things. It helps you learn about your own art, your own taste,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillipa-soo/exposing-yourself-to-many-kinds-of-art-can-only-lead-to-amazing/) [Phillipa Soo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillipa-soo/) > [There must always be two kinds of art: escape-art, for man needs escape as he needs food and deep sleep, and parable-art, that art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-must-always-be-two-kinds-of-art-escape-art-for-man-needs-escape/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Walter Pater > [A counted number of pulses only is given to us of a variegated, dramatic life. How may we see in them all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/a-counted-number-of-pulses-only-is-given-to-us-of-a-variegated/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [What we have to do is to be forever curiously testing new opinions and courting new impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/what-we-have-to-do-is-to-be-forever-curiously-testing-new-opinions/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [One of the most beautiful passages of Rousseau is that in the sixth book of Confessions, where he describes the awakening in him of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/one-of-the-most-beautiful-passages-of-rousseau-is-that-in-the-sixth/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [For art comes to you proposing frankly to give nothing but the highest quality to your moments as they pass, and simply for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/for-art-comes-to-you-proposing-frankly-to-give-nothing-but-the/) [Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/) > [Every moment some form grows perfect in hand or face; 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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. 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