Berton Braley Quote

“I honestly believe that sound commercialism is the best test of true value in art. People work hard for their money and if they won’t part with it for your product the chances are that your product hasn’t sufficient value. An artist or writer hasn’t any monopoly .... If the public response to his artistry is lacking, he’d do well to spend more time analyzing what’s the matter with his work, and less time figuring what’s the matter with the public.”

~ Berton Braley

Pegasus Pulls A Hack: Memoirs Of A Modern Minstrel.

Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

Way to broad a subject matter to be reduced to profit as the ultimate measuring device or motive. In support of the statement, fake news by the MSM has been reduced to an art form of deception and ecclesiastic propagation of derelict malefactors (artfully cherry picking real or made up events with the intent to place a prejudicial spin). Such MSM's value continues to decline in commercial worth and volume of money. The MSM needs "spend more time analyzing what’s the matter with his work, and less time figuring what’s the matter with the public." There are many creators of art with whom it is not the commercial profit that is sought but rather, just the simple enjoyment and expression of the endeavor.

Mick, Manchester

Ah the creative muse! Art for Art's sake, money for God's sake. The true value of art is intrinsic and its monetary worth contextual and accidental unless manufactured by middlemen. Many artists make very little from what they create; that's left to the dealers, manager's and promoters. Imagine the artistic poverty of world where those who produce art of all kinds are motivated by its mere financial worth. This guy sounds like a real prick.

Jim K, Austin

The second sentence in this quote is very accurate.

Ronw13, Oregon

A commonsense statement of quality and its measurement. Governments observe sentiment of the consumer. Obviously Obama's art was not very highly thought of. The quote is true to core. Braley was very detail oriented !!

@

Get a Quote-a-Day!

Liberty Quotes sent to your mail box daily.