I have treated many artists. There are among them many neurotics, so many that one finally comes to believe that one cannot be an artist without being neurotic. Again I found in them that inner conflict which is characteristic of modern man: the conflict between a right intuition (namely, that their vocation has fundamental importance for the destiny of humanity) and a false idea (namely, that art is superfluous luxury). Paul Tournier
About This Quote

In this quote from the novel "The Trial" by Franz Kafka, the author discusses how he views artists. He believes that artists must have a great amount of self-confidence and a great amount of self-discipline. He also believes that artists cannot be neurotics or at least should not be neurotic because being a neurotic would mean that the artist would have a level of self-doubt. Though it is not meant to imply that his view is correct, but rather that his view is one that many people would agree with as well as the idea that artists are typically very confident people.

Source: The Whole Person In A Broken World

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  1. The acceptance of oneself is the essence of the whole moral problem and the epitome of a whole outlook on life. That I feed the hungry, that I forgive an insult, that I love my enemy in the name of Christ -- all these are...

  2. As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.

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  4. How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also If I am to be whole

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