Lawrence Durrell suggests that an artist's personal life is often hidden from the world. Instead of sharing their true feelings openly, artists express themselves through their work, which serves as a window into their inner world. Their creations reveal more genuine emotions than their outward lives, compelling us to look into their art to understand their true self.

He emphasizes that beneath the surface concerns of sex, society, and religion—common themes that fill intellectual discourse—there lies a man overwhelmed by a profound lack of tenderness and compassion in the world. Durrell portrays the artist as someone tormented by this emotional void, and his work becomes a reflection of this deep inner pain.