Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
The easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being an artist involves both clarity of message and timing.
This quote by Mark Twain highlights the dual challenges faced by artists: the initial task of formulating a message that resonates with the audience and the far more daunting task of patiently waiting for the right moment to present that message. It underscores the importance of timing in communication and artistic expression, suggesting that even with a perfect message, it can fall flat if introduced at the wrong time.
Themes
ArtistMessageTimingExpressionCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about artistic challenges at a gallery opening.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes →You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
Mark TwainRead
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Mark TwainRead
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
Mark TwainRead
In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
Mark TwainRead
Some things you can't find out; but you will never know you can't by guessing and supposing: no, you have to be patient and go on experimenting until you find out that you can't find out.
Mark TwainRead
Similar quotes
I'm very glad people love 'Breaking Bad,' but the harder character to write is the good character that's as interesting and as engaging as the bad guy.
Vince GilliganRead
Sing such a song with all of your heart that you'll never have to sing again.
KabirRead
I just want to see more women in film and behind the camera. I'm tired of seeing movies from one perspective.
Jessica ChastainRead
The journey homewards. Coming home. That's what it's all about. The journey to the coming of the Kingdom. That's probably the chief difference between the Christian and the secular artist--the purpose of the work, be it story or music or painting, is to further the coming of the kingdom, to make us aware of our status as children of God, and to turn our feet toward home.
Madeleine L'EngleRead
Not for a moment, beautiful aged Walt Whitman, have I failed to see your beard full of butterflies.
Federico Garcia LorcaRead
You have to be free to play around with the notion that day might be night, love might be hate; nothing can be too sacred for the imagination to turn into its opposite or to call experimentally by another name. For writing is re-naming.
Adrienne RichRead