--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is popular is not necessarily…" description: "\"What is popular is not necessarily vulgar; and that which we try to rescue from fatal obscurity had in general much better remain where it is.\" — Willi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/william-hazlitt-326_clothes_what-is-popular-is-not-necessarily-vulga_92948.png" --- # What is popular is not necessarily vulgar; and that which… ![“What is popular is not necessarily vulgar; and that which we try to rescue from fatal obscurity had in general much better remain where it is.” quote by William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/william-hazlitt-326_clothes_what-is-popular-is-not-necessarily-vulga_92948.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/william-hazlitt-326_clothes_what-is-popular-is-not-necessarily-vulga_92948.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/william-hazlitt-326_clothes_what-is-popular-is-not-necessarily-vulga_92948.png) > “What is popular is not necessarily vulgar; and that which we try to rescue from fatal obscurity had in general much better remain where it is.” [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Popularity doesn't equal vulgarity; rescuing obscure works may be futile—some creations belong untouched. **In simple terms:** Not all popular is vulgar; some obscure works stay hidden. Key Takeaway Value isn't solely tied to fame. Themes Aesthetics Cultural value Obscurity Taste Mood Contemplative Intellectual Type Philosophical Observation When to use this quote - Literary criticism - Museum curation - Publishing decisions Key Concepts Artistic merit Cultural preservation Practical Applications - Curating exhibitions - Evaluating reprint viability Questions to Reflect On - How do we decide which obscure works merit revival? - Can popularity ever be a reliable gauge of quality? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Obscurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obscurity/) [Vulgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgar/) ## Related quotes > [“It is better to remain humble, you don't have as far to fall when reality sets in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-fawcett/it-is-better-to-remain-humble-you-don-t-have-as-far-to-fall-when/) Martha Fawcett > [“It was better to remain on my island than drown in somebody else’s sea. 7”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-marrs/it-was-better-to-remain-on-my-island-than-drown-in-somebody-else-s/) [John Marrs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-marrs/) > [“The past is past. And better it remain so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-blum/the-past-is-past-and-better-it-remain-so/) [Jenna Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-blum/) > [I only hope that one day, America will recognize what the rest of the world already has known, that our indigenous music - gospel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-only-hope-that-one-day-america-will-recognize-what-the-rest-of-the/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [Unfortunately, we are living in an era where plenty of songs with vulgar, objectionable lyrics are also becoming popular. It's a disturbing trend, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shreya-ghoshal/unfortunately-we-are-living-in-an-era-where-plenty-of-songs-with/) [Shreya Ghoshal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shreya-ghoshal/) > [Vulgar prejudices are those which arise out of accident, ignorance, or authority; natural prejudices are those which arise out of the constitution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/vulgar-prejudices-are-those-which-arise-out-of-accident-ignorance-or/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [A thing is not vulgar merely because it is common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/a-thing-is-not-vulgar-merely-because-it-is-common/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Those who know that they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound to the crowd strive for obscurity. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/those-who-know-that-they-are-profound-strive-for-clarity-those-who/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [In the still of the night I can hear my thoughts and dance into obscurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sparks/in-the-still-of-the-night-i-can-hear-my-thoughts-and-dance-into/) Kevin Sparks > [If we were not in Vietnam, all that part of the world would be enjoying the obscurity it so richly deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/if-we-were-not-in-vietnam-all-that-part-of-the-world-would-be/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [One of the only coherent philosophical positions is thus revolt. 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If I were really deep, all the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/if-i-am-ever-obscure-in-my-expressions-do-not-fancy-that-therefore-i/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/so-true-is-it-that-all-transactions-of-preeminent-importance-are/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by William Hazlitt > [First impressions are often the truest, as we find (not infrequently) to our cost, when we have been wheedled out of them by plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/first-impressions-are-often-the-truest-as-we-find-not-infrequently-to/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-art-of-life-is-to-know-how-to-enjoy-a-little-and-to-endure-very/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [The discussing the characters and foibles of common friends is a great sweetness and cement of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/the-discussing-the-characters-and-foibles-of-common-friends-is-a/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Want of principle is power. 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You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Don't get too excited, but I'm naked under these clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/don-t-get-too-excited-but-i-m-naked-under-these-clothes/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. 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