And often he who has chosen the fate of the artist because he felt himself to be different soon realizes that he can maintain neither his art nor his difference unless he admits that he is like the others. The artist forges himself to the others, midway between the beauty he cannot do without and the community he cannot tear himself away from.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the balance an artist must find between individuality and connection with society.
Albert Camus highlights the struggle of artists who initially feel different and distinct from others but come to understand that their identity and creative expression are intertwined with the community around them. This creates a paradox where the artist must embrace both their uniqueness and their commonality with others to thrive in their art and maintain their sense of self.
In practice
This quote could be shared during an art exhibition to illustrate the journey of artists.
The Poor Man whom everyone speaks of, the Poor Man whom everyone pities, one of the repulsive Poor from whom charitable souls keep their distance, he has still said nothing. Or, rather, he has spoken through the voice of Victor Hugo, Zola, Richepin. At least, they said so. And these shameful impostures fed their authors. Cruel irony, the Poor Man tormented with hunger feeds those who plead his case.
The certainty of a God giving meaning to life far surpasses in attractiveness the ability to behave badly with impunity. The choice would not be hard to make. But there is no choice and that is where the bitterness comes in. The absurd does not liberate; it binds.
Between history and the eternal I have chosen history because I like certainties. Of it, at least, I am certain, and how can I deny this force crushing me.
Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.
A single sentence will suffice for modern man. He fornicated and read the papers. After that vigorous definition, the subject will be, if I may say so, exhausted.
At times I feel myself overtaken by an immense tenderness for these people around me who live in the same century.
Writing! The activity for which the only adequate bribe is the possibility of suicide, one day.
The character of the artist doesn't enter into the nature of the art
The authour who imitates his predecessors only by furnishing himself with thoughts and elegances out of the same general magazine of literature, can with little more propriety be reproached as a plagiary, than the architect can be censured as a mean copier of Angelo or Wren, because he digs his marble out of the same quarry, squares his stones by the same art, and unites them in columns of the same orders.
I write a song because I want to. I think the moment you start writing it to make money, you're starting to kill yourself artistically.
Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an invention of philosophers... What we call art is a game.
The thing I love about music is that you can take things that are painful, deep things that hurt you, and you can turn them into something beautiful.
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