"I don't know whether I like it, but it is what I meant"
- Ralph Vaughan Williams
About this Quote
This quote by Ralph Vaughan Williams is a reflection on the creative procedure. It talks to the idea that the artist might not constantly be pleased with the end outcome of their work, but that it is still a reflection of their original intent. It recommends that the artist may have a vision of what they want to produce, but the real result might be various than what they had actually pictured. This quote likewise speaks to the idea that the artist should accept the outcome of their work, even if it is not what they had actually initially intended. It is a suggestion that the creative procedure is often unpredictable and that the artist should be willing to accept the results of their work, even if they do not like it. Ultimately, this quote is a suggestion that the imaginative process is typically unforeseeable and that the artist must be willing to accept the results of their work, even if they don't like it.
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