Great art is never produced for its own sake. It is too difficult to be worth the effort.

The quote means that creating art is hard work and that it is not done without a purpose. Great art is meant to have an impact on the audience, to move people emotionally or intellectually, to convey a message, or to in some way make a difference in people’s lives. Therefore, the effort that goes into creating art is worth it as it can potentially have a positive effect on others.