Therefore art, being its own motive, must not be considered an expedient.
 Gustave Flaubert, Bouvard et Pécuchet (1881). copy citation

add
Author Gustave Flaubert
Source Bouvard et Pécuchet
Topic art motive
Date 1881
Language English
Reference
Note
Weblink https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46909/46909-h/46909-h.htm

Context

““All the intellectual beauties and details of a tale (if it is well written) are so many useful facts, and are perhaps more precious to the public mind than the main points that make up the subject.”—Buffon. Therefore art, being its own motive, must not be considered an expedient. No matter how much genius we might use in the development of a story used as an example, another might prove the contrary. A climax is not a conclusion. We must not infer generalities from one particular case;” source