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I invented something called The Oxford Muse. The Muses were women in mythology. They did not teach or require to be worshipped, but they were a source of inspiration. They taught you how to cultivate your emotions through the different arts in order to reach a higher plane. What is lacking now, I believe, is somewhere you can get that stimulation not information, but stimulation where you can meet just that person, or find just that situation, which will give you the idea of invention, of carrying out some project which interests you, and show how it can become a project of interest to other people.

Theodore Zeldin#1

ArtEducationEmotionInspirationInvention

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker critiques modern lack of inspiration compared to mythological Muses, calling for environments that spark invention and interest.
In plain terms
We need places that inspire invention, not just give info.
What can you take from it?
Seek environments that spark creative invention over raw info.

Where it applies

  • creative blocks
  • seeking mentorship
  • designing learning

Putting it to work

  • find creative communities
  • cultivate emotions through arts
  • seek inspirational mentors

Questions to consider

  • Where do you find inspiration?
  • How do you cultivate emotions?

Another view

Inspiration alone does not guarantee successful projects.

More from Theodore Zeldin

  1. The past is what provides us with the building blocks. Our job today is to create new buildings out of them.

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  2. The violent have been victorious for most of history because they kindled the fear with which everyone is born.

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. The temptation before 1933 was to believe in Hitler as a savior, to believe in a national rebirth. The path to National Socialism led through a wasteland of pe…

    Permalink to quote #4

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