Art Quote by William Faulkner
“Good art can come out of thieves, bootleggers, or horse swipes. People really are afraid to find out just how much hardship and poverty they can stand. They are afraid to find out how tough they are. Nothing can destroy the good writer. The only thing that can alter the good writer is death. Good ones don't have time to bother with success or getting rich. Success is feminine and like a woman; if you cringe before her, she will override you. So the way to treat her is to show her the back of your hand. Then maybe she will do the crawling.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner, 1929
The quote suggests that hardship reveals inner strength and that true writers are immune to material concerns, while success is elusive and must be faced directly.
In simple terms: Hardship shows strength; writers ignore wealth; success must be confronted.
Key Takeaway
Embrace difficulty, focus on craft, ignore wealth.
Themes
resilience
creativity
success
wealth
masculinity
Mood
defiant
reflective
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing
- poverty
- personal growth
- career development
- financial ambition
Key Concepts
existentialism
authorial identity
societal pressure
Questions to Reflect On
- How does adversity shape your creative work?
- What does “show her the back of your hand” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Success may still be influenced by external factors and privilege.
