The true artistic genius, who will not cater to accepted notions, who exercises originality, and strives to be true to life, leads an obscure and wretched existence.
 Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays (1910). copy citation

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Author Emma Goldman
Source Anarchism and Other Essays
Topic originality genius
Date 1910
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2162/2162-h/2162-h.htm

Context

“Certainly, none but a majority taste would tolerate such an outrage on art. False in conception and barbarous in execution, the statuary that infests American cities has as much relation to true art, as a totem to a Michael Angelo. Yet that is the only art that succeeds. The true artistic genius, who will not cater to accepted notions, who exercises originality, and strives to be true to life, leads an obscure and wretched existence. His work may some day become the fad of the mob, but not until his heart's blood had been exhausted; not until the pathfinder has ceased to be, and a throng of an idealless and visionless mob has done to death the heritage of the master.” source