Through art then, one finally establishes contact with reality: that is the great discovery. Here all is play and invention; there is no solid foothold from which to launch the projectiles which will pierce the miasma of folly, ignorance and greed. The world has not to be put in order: the world is order incarnate. It is for us to put ourselves in unison with this order, to know what is the world order in contradistinction to the wishful-thinking orders which we seek to impose on one another. The power which we long to possess, in order to establish the good, the true and the beautiful, would prove to be, if we could have it, but the means of destroying one another. It is fortunate that we are powerless.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Art connects us to reality; the world is already ordered, and our attempts to impose order often destroy.
- In plain terms
- Art shows reality; the world is already in order, but we try to change it for worse.
- What can you take from it?
- Align with the world's order rather than impose your own.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Should we try to improve the world?
- What is real order?
Another view
Imposing order can be constructive.
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