--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The supreme virtue in art is soul…" description: "\"The supreme virtue in art is soul, perhaps it is the only thing which gives it the right to be.\" — Willa Cather" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/willa-cather-634_art_the-supreme-virtue-in-art-is-soul-perhap_2083747.png" --- # The supreme virtue in art is soul, perhaps it is the only… ![“The supreme virtue in art is soul, perhaps it is the only thing which gives it the right to be.” quote by Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/willa-cather-634_art_the-supreme-virtue-in-art-is-soul-perhap_2083747.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/willa-cather-634_art_the-supreme-virtue-in-art-is-soul-perhap_2083747.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03a/willa-cather-634_art_the-supreme-virtue-in-art-is-soul-perhap_2083747.png) > “The supreme virtue in art is soul, perhaps it is the only thing which gives it the right to be.” [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art’s highest virtue is its soul, the essential quality that justifies its existence. **In simple terms:** Soul gives art its right to be. Key Takeaway Seek authenticity in creative work. Themes authenticity beauty purpose art virtue Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical creative When to use this quote - painting - writing - music - performance - cultural critique Key Concepts aesthetics existentialism creative integrity Questions to Reflect On - What gives your art its soul? - Can art exist without purpose? A Different Perspective Focusing on technique alone can neglect soul. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [After all, the supreme virtue in all art is soul, perhaps it is the only thing which gives art a right to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/after-all-the-supreme-virtue-in-all-art-is-soul-perhaps-it-is-the/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Even virtue is an art; and even its devotees are divided into those who practise it and those who are merely amateurs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/even-virtue-is-an-art-and-even-its-devotees-are-divided-into-those/) [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-von-ebner-eschenbach/) > [The virtue as the art consecrates itself constantly to what's difficult to do, and the harder the task, the shinier the success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/the-virtue-as-the-art-consecrates-itself-constantly-to-what-s/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [The virtue of art lies in detachment, in sequestering one object from the embarrassing variety. Until one thing comes out from theconnection of things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-virtue-of-art-lies-in-detachment-in-sequestering-one-object-from/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [It is not enough merely possess virtue, as if it were an art; it should be practiced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-not-enough-merely-possess-virtue-as-if-it-were-an-art-it-should/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Charity is a supreme virtue, and the great channel through which the mercy of God is passed on to mankind. It is the virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-hilton/charity-is-a-supreme-virtue-and-the-great-channel-through-which-the/) [Conrad Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-hilton/) > [If happiness, then, is activity expressing virtue, it is reasonable for it to express the supreme virtue, which will be the virtueof the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-happiness-then-is-activity-expressing-virtue-it-is-reasonable-for/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [In the world of securities, courage becomes the supreme virtue after adequate knowledge and a tested judgment are at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/in-the-world-of-securities-courage-becomes-the-supreme-virtue-after/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [Seek for illumination of self, and then the world, through the simple, humble, almighty, supreme virtue of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/seek-for-illumination-of-self-and-then-the-world-through-the-simple/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The simple, humble, almighty, supreme virtue of love is the invincible fire of transformation for healing the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-simple-humble-almighty-supreme-virtue-of-love-is-the-invincible/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [...Forgiveness is Truth itself. 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Just as science is the intellect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxim-gorky/the-good-qualities-in-our-soul-are-most-successfully-and-forcefully/) [Maxim Gorky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxim-gorky/) > [Art is the soul of a people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romare-bearden/art-is-the-soul-of-a-people/) [Romare Bearden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romare-bearden/) ## More by Willa Cather > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Success is less interesting than struggle. There is great pleasure in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/success-is-less-interesting-than-struggle-there-is-great-pleasure-in/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“I only knew the schoolbooks said he "died in the wilderness, of a broken heart." "More than him has done that," said Antonia sadly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/i-only-knew-the-schoolbooks-said-he-died-in-the-wilderness-of-a/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“Have the last word ma'm," he said cheerfully. "It's a lady's privilege.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/have-the-last-word-ma-m-he-said-cheerfully-it-s-a-lady-s-privilege/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > ["More than him has done that," said Antonia sadly, and the girls murmured assent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/more-than-him-has-done-that-said-antonia-sadly-and-the-girls-murmured/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Nothing mattered ... but writing books, and living the kind of life that made it possible to write them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/nothing-mattered-but-writing-books-and-living-the-kind-of-life-that/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“Money and office and success are the consolations of impotence. 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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 > [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. 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