Quote of the day by John Ashbery: 'Most reckless things are beautiful in some way, and recklessness is what makes...' - inspiring lessons on art, beauty, creativity and why taking risks can lead to your greatest discoveries by Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror poet

Quote of the day by John Ashbery: Art, innovation, and human imagination often emerge from uncertainty rather than certainty. Throughout history, some of the most influential creative movements have challenged established rules, embraced risk, and explored ideas that initially seemed impractical or even irrational. Poet John Ashbery reflected on this connection between risk and beauty in a thought-provoking quote about creativity, belief, and artistic freedom.

Quote of the Day Today: John Ashbery on Recklessness, Experimental Art, Creativity, and Beauty

John Ashbery said, “Most reckless things are beautiful in some way, and recklessness is what makes experimental art beautiful, just as religions are beautiful because of the strong possibilities that they are founded on nothing,” as per Goodreads.

John Ashbery’s Quote Explained: The Connection Between Creativity and Uncertainty

Ashbery suggests that beauty is not always found in caution, order, or certainty. Instead, some of the most compelling ideas and creations emerge when people are willing to take risks and step beyond conventional boundaries.


By describing reckless things as beautiful, he points to the appeal of bold actions and unconventional thinking. In the context of experimental art, he argues that its beauty comes from its willingness to challenge expectations without any guarantee of success.

How Bold Ideas Shape Culture and Progress

The comparison to religion highlights a similar idea. Ashbery notes that belief systems often draw power from possibilities that cannot be fully proven. Whether one agrees with them or not, their ability to inspire faith, meaning, and imagination contributes to their enduring appeal.

Quote of the Day June 17: Lessons From John Ashbery’s Message

• Creativity often requires taking risks.
• Innovation grows from challenging conventions.
• Uncertainty can inspire new ideas and perspectives.
• Beauty is not always tied to certainty or structure.
• Bold experimentation can lead to meaningful discoveries.

Why John Ashbery’s Quote Still Matters Today

Ashbery’s words offer a reminder that progress and creativity frequently begin with uncertainty. Many artistic breakthroughs, scientific discoveries, and cultural movements started as ideas that seemed unlikely or unconventional.

The quote encourages people to embrace curiosity and remain open to possibilities, even when success is not guaranteed. It suggests that some of life’s most meaningful achievements come from the willingness to explore the unknown.

Who Was John Ashbery

John Ashbery (1927–2017) was an American poet known for his originality, elegance, and distinctive writing style.

John Ashbery's Education and Early Career

Ashbery graduated from Harvard University in 1949 and earned a master’s degree from Columbia University in 1951. After working as a copywriter in New York, he lived in Paris until 1965, where he wrote art criticism for the Paris edition of the New York Herald-Tribune and Art News, as per a Britannica report. He later returned to New York, served as executive editor of Art News, and taught poetry and creative writing at Brooklyn College.

John Ashbery's Major Works and Awards

His first poetry collection, Turandot and Other Poems, was published in 1953. Other notable works included Some Trees (1956), Rivers and Mountains (1966), The Double Dream of Spring (1970), Houseboat Days (1977), A Wave (1984), Flow Chart (1991), and Breezeway (2015), as per the Britannica report.

His most celebrated collection, Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror (1975), won the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

John Ashbery's Style and Legacy

Ashbery’s poetry was often considered challenging because of its complexity and unconventional structure. His work featured vivid imagery, shifting tones, and dreamlike reflections that emphasized suggestion and atmosphere rather than straightforward meaning, as per the Britannica report. He also translated works by French writers, including Yves Bonnefoy and Arthur Rimbaud.

Famous Quotes by John Ashbery

Here are a few more quotes by John Ashbery.

• "I don't look on poetry as closed works. I feel they're going on all the time in my head and I occasionally snip off a length," as per BrainyQuote.
• "There is the view that poetry should improve your life. I think people confuse it with the Salvation Army," as per BrainyQuote.
• "I like poems you can tack all over with a hammer and there are no hollow places," as per BrainyQuote.