"The sinews of art and literature, like those of war, are money"

This quote by Samuel Butler is a metaphor comparing the funds needed to support art and literature to those needed to support war. Butler is recommending that both art and literature, along with war, require a considerable financial investment in order to be successful. He is highlighting the importance of money in the pursuit of both innovative and destructive endeavors.

Butler is likewise recommending that money is an essential element of any venture, despite its purpose. Without money, it is hard to accomplish any goal, whether it is to produce an artwork or to wage a war. Money is the fuel that powers the engine of progress, and without it, progress is impossible.

Butler's quote is a reminder that money is a powerful tool that can be used for both excellent and bad. It can be used to create gorgeous masterpieces or to wage devastating wars. It is up to us to choose how we utilize it.