The masterpiece should appear as the flower to the painter - perfect in its bud as in its bloom - with no reason to explain its presence - no mission to fulfill - a joy to the artist, a delusion to the philanthropist - a puzzle to the botanist - an accident of sentiment and alliteration to the literary man.
James M. Whistler (2012). “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies”, p.100, Courier Corporation
![The masterpiece should appear as the flower to the painter - perfect in its bud as in its bloom - with no reason to explain its presence - no mission to fulfill - a joy to the artist, a delusion to the philanthropist -](http://cdn.myquotes.org/images/james-whistler/the-masterpiece-should-appear-as-the-flower-to-the-painter---perfect-in-its-bud-as-in-its-bloom.jpg)