Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass.

The quote "Very few people possess true artistic ability. It is therefore both unseemly and unproductive to irritate the situation by making an effort. If you have a burning, restless urge to write or paint, simply eat something sweet and the feeling will pass" by Fran Lebowitz offers a humorous and somewhat cynical take on the idea of artistic inspiration and creativity. Lebowitz, a writer and public speaker known for her sharp wit and observations on modern life, suggests that true artistic ability is rare, and for most people, the urge to create is fleeting and not worth pursuing. She proposes that instead of striving to create when you feel the impulse, simply satisfy your immediate desires (like eating something sweet), implying that the desire for artistic expression is often nothing more than a passing, trivial urge.

Lebowitz’s statement challenges the romanticized notion that all artists are driven by an uncontrollable inner passion to create. Instead, she humorously argues that the yearning to write or paint is not always a serious or meaningful call to action but is more of a temporary feeling that can be easily dismissed. By suggesting that eating something sweet can make the urge pass, she diminishes the importance of artistic ambition, treating it as a fleeting whim rather than a profound or necessary pursuit.

In this quote, Lebowitz also critiques the often intense pressure placed on people to create art. She highlights the idea that artistic ability is rare and not something that everyone should feel compelled to chase. The suggestion that one should not irritate the situation by "making an effort" implies that forcing oneself to be creative, especially when not truly driven by a deep need to create, is unproductive and unnecessary.

Ultimately, Lebowitz’s quote is both a humorous commentary on the nature of artistic inspiration and a critique of the modern obsession with creative output. While she acknowledges the existence of true artistic ability, her words also serve as a reminder that creativity should not be forced and that the fleeting urge to create is often best left alone, with simple distractions like eating something sweet offering a temporary relief.