The former post was off topic and was removed as it was a violation of our
Great Books spirit.

These forums are being phased out & replaced. Join us at our new
registration-only forums at:

jollyrogerwest.com Great Books forums,
Philosophy Forums,
and booksliterature.com Great Books forums.

Please respect that these are Great Books sites. We far prefer
discussions along the following
lines:

People call me the painter of dancers, but I really wish to
capture movement itself.
Edgar Degas

LXXXIII



I never saw that you did painting need,

And therefore to your fair no painting set;

I found, or thought I found, you did exceed

That barren tender of a poet\'s debt:

And therefore have I slept in your report,

That you yourself, being extant, well might show

How far a modern quill doth come too short,

Speaking of worth, what worth in you doth grow. 

This silence for my sin you did impute,

Which shall be most my glory being dumb;

For I impair not beauty being mute,

When others would give life, and bring a tomb.

  There lives more life in one of your fair eyes

  Than both your poets can in praise devise.

 	--William Shakespeare

CXXXIII



How oft when thou, my music, music play\'st,

Upon that blessed wood whose motion sounds

With thy sweet fingers when thou gently sway\'st

The wiry concord that mine ear confounds,

Do I envy those jacks that nimble leap,

To kiss the tender inward of thy hand,

Whilst my poor lips which should that harvest reap,

At the wood\'s boldness by thee blushing stand!

To be so tickled, they would change their state 

And situation with those dancing chips,

O\'er whom thy fingers walk with gentle gait,

Making dead wood more bless\'d than living lips.

  Since saucy jacks so happy are in this,

  Give them thy fingers, me thy lips to kiss.

 	--William Shakespeare

The task of art is enormous. Through the influence of real art,
aided by science, guided by religion, that peaceful co-operation of man is
now obtained by external means-by law courts, police, charitable
institutions, factory inspection, etc.-should be obtained by man\'s free
and joyous activity. Art should cause violence to be set aside. And it is
only art that can accomplish this.
Leo N. Tolstoy