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About this quote

What does it mean?
Art is the only serious pursuit, yet artists themselves never take it seriously.
In plain terms
Art matters a lot, but artists stay playful.
What can you take from it?
Take art seriously without becoming rigid.

Where it applies

  • in a studio
  • during a performance

Putting it to work

  • experiment with new media
  • laugh at your own work

Questions to consider

  • Why is seriousness sometimes counterproductive in art?
  • Can playfulness undermine artistic impact?

Another view

Some art can be frivolous or commercial.

More from Oscar Wilde

  1. Friendship is far more tragic than love. It lasts longer.

    Permalink to quote #124
  2. Even the disciple has his uses. He stands behind one's throne, and at the moment of one's triumph whispers in one's ear that, after all, one is immortal.

    Permalink to quote #126
  3. In old days books were written by men of letters and read by the public. Nowadays books are written by the public and read by nobody.

    Permalink to quote #123

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