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.
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
Putting it to work
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
The past is what provides us with the building blocks. Our job today is to create new buildings out of them.
Permalink to quote #2 The violent have been victorious for most of history because they kindled the fear with which everyone is born.
Permalink to quote #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
Related quotes
Illustrious acts high raptures do infuse, And every conqueror creates a muse.
Edmund WallerEdmund Waller quote #2 By whatever means it is accomplished, the prime business of a play is to arouse the passions of its audience so that by the route of passion may be opened up n…
Arthur MillerArthur Miller quote #6 So living Nature, not dull Art, Shall plan my ways and rule my heart.
John Henry Cardinal NewmanJohn Henry Cardinal Newman quote #8