From Somerset Maugham’s novel “The Moon and Sixpence” (1) Storeve : "I don’t pretend to be a great painter,” he says early on, “but I have something. I sell.”

From Somerset Maugham’s novel “The Moon and Sixpence” (1) Storeve : "I don’t pretend to be a great painter,” he says early on, “but I have something. I sell.” Yet he recognizes Strickland’s (Stroeve's friend) work as genius. He tells the dealer, “Remember Monet, who could not get anyone to buy his pictures for a hundred francs. What are they worth now?” The dealer questions this logic. “There were a hundred as good painters as Monet who couldn’t sell their pictures at that time, and their pictures are worth nothing still. How can one tell? Is merit enough to bring success?” Stroeve is infuriated. “How, then, will you recognize merit?” he asks. “There is only one way—by success,” the dealer replies. “Think of all the great artists of the past—Raphael, Michael Angelo, Ingres, Delacroix—they were all successful.” (1) - http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/05/31/the-great-and-the-good http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/05/31/the-great-and-t...