"Whether you listen to a piece of music, or a poem, or look at a picture or a jug, or a piece of sculpture, what matters about it is not what it has in common with others of its kind, but what is singularly its own"
- Basil Bunting
About this Quote
This quote by Basil Bunting talks to the importance of appreciating the special qualities of any piece of art. He recommends that what matters most is not what it has in common with other works of its kind, however rather what makes it unique and distinct. This idea encourages us to look beyond the surface area of an artwork and to value the private components that make it special. It also encourages us to appreciate the imaginative procedure and the effort that enters into producing something that is genuinely distinctive. By acknowledging the singular qualities of a piece of art, we can acquire a much deeper understanding and gratitude of it.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"