If you want to really hurt you parents, and you don't have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.

Summary

This quote by Kurt Vonnegut suggests that engaging in the arts, even if not professionally or skillfully, can bring profound emotional fulfillment and personal growth while serving as a means of defiance or rebellion against societal norms. Vonnegut encourages individuals who may not have the courage to embrace their true identity to find solace and expression through artistic mediums. He emphasizes that practicing any art form, regardless of aptitude or outcome, allows one to experience the intrinsic value of creating something and to cultivate a more meaningful existence.

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