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To lose sensibility, to see what one sees, As if sight had…

“To lose sensibility, to see what one sees, As if sight had not its own miraculous thrift, To hear only what one hears, one meaning alone, As if the paradise of meaning ceased To be paradise, it is this to be destitute.” quote by Wallace Stevens
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“To lose sensibility, to see what one sees, As if sight had not its own miraculous thrift, To hear only what one hears, one meaning alone, As if the paradise of meaning ceased To be paradise, it is this to be destitute.”

Wallace Stevens

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The poet suggests that perception is filtered through personal imagination, making reality seem both abundant and empty.

In simple terms: Our senses shape reality, often leaving us feeling lacking.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how imagination colors perception.

Themes

perception imagination reality emptiness

Mood

contemplative melancholic

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • art criticism
  • personal reflection
  • philosophical inquiry

Key Concepts

subjectivity miraculous thrift meaning paradise

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does your imagination alter what you see?
  • Can you find meaning beyond sensory limits?
A Different Perspective

Our senses may mislead us, causing disconnection from true experience.

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