Definitions HQ

A Work of art (n.) appeals ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠to each person only according to the measure of his own intellectual worth.

A Work of art (n.) should ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠be treated like a great man: Stand before it and wait patiently till it deigns to speak.

A Work of art (n.) springing ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠purely from perception can never be false nor discredited by time, because it offers not an opinion but the thing itself.

The Work of art (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠incapable of being false if it is genuine, nor can it be discredited through the lapse of time, for it does not present an opinion but the thing itself.

A Work of art (n.) drawn ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠directly from life has eternal youth: belonging to no age but to humanity, it is coldly received by its own time, which it silently accuses, and never grows old.

The Work of art (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠conditioned by the kinship and capacity of the mind to which it speaks. To the ordinary mind a masterpiece is a sealed cabinet of mystery, an unfamiliar musical instrument from which the player, however much he may flatter himself, can draw none but confused tones.