--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The act of expressing oneself is a…" description: "\"The act of expressing oneself is a physical one. It materializes the thought.\" — Asger Jorn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png" --- # The act of expressing oneself is a physical one. It… ![“The act of expressing oneself is a physical one. It materializes the thought.” quote by Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png) > “The act of expressing oneself is a physical one. It materializes the thought.” [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expressing thoughts physically helps solidify and clarify them **In simple terms:** Physical expression materializes thought Key Takeaway Write or draw to clarify ideas Themes creativity mindfulness art Mood creative introspective Type artistic psychological When to use this quote - journaling - sketching - public speaking Key Concepts embodiment cognitive processing Questions to Reflect On - How does moving from mind to body change ideas? - What mediums best capture your thoughts? A Different Perspective Physical expression may limit abstract thinking ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Act Expressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/act-expressing-5456870/) [Expressing oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressing-oneself/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Materializes Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/materializes-thought-5456867/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Physical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-physical-5456868/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Physical Materializes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-materializes-5456869/) ## Related quotes > [I was probably 14 or 15 when I was first on stage at school doing 'Measure for Measure.' I immediately felt it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-was-probably-14-or-15-when-i-was-first-on-stage-at-school-doing/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [To me, ultimately, martial arts means honestly expressing yourself. Now, it is very difficult to do. It has always been very easy for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-me-ultimately-martial-arts-means-honestly-expressing-yourself-now/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [ Evidence that \[feminine aesthetic preferences and ways of expressing oneself\] may be hardwired comes from the fact that they typically appear early in childhood… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-serano/evidence-that-feminine-aesthetic-preferences-and-ways-of-expressing/) [Julia Serano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-serano/) > [“Funny how we do not realize the true value and legacy of a living icon until they suddenly pass away. Truth is, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/funny-how-we-do-not-realize-the-true-value-and-legacy-of-a-living/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“After all, work is the primary vehicle for most people to express themselves in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudhakar-ram/after-all-work-is-the-primary-vehicle-for-most-people-to-express/) [Sudhakar Ram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudhakar-ram/) > [“The most meaningful way to express your friendship and enmity is saying nothing at all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-most-meaningful-way-to-express-your-friendship-and-enmity-is/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [“Language is the gateway of the mind and a bridge that connects us to other human beings. Language enables a person to share their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/language-is-the-gateway-of-the-mind-and-a-bridge-that-connects-us-to/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“Stop wearing that mask that is trying to be a match for everybody, and realise that you have to have more of a 1s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/stop-wearing-that-mask-that-is-trying-to-be-a-match-for-everybody-and/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [“I like to play outside of the box they have made for me. I was born this way. That's how my brain works. Create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-rose-snelling/i-like-to-play-outside-of-the-box-they-have-made-for-me-i-was-born/) [Sara Rose Snelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-rose-snelling/) > [Expressing oneself is like a drug. I'm so addicted to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/expressing-oneself-is-like-a-drug-i-m-so-addicted-to-it/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Blankly expressing oneself can be stronger than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morabito/blankly-expressing-oneself-can-be-stronger-than-words/) [Paul Morabito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morabito/) > [“Free men can easily become enslaved, if they let others do their thinking and talking, instead of using their own heads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-puz/free-men-can-easily-become-enslaved-if-they-let-others-do-their/) [Richard Puz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-puz/) > [Poetry is the most direct and simple means of expressing oneself in words: the most primitive nations have poetry, but only quitewell developed civilizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/poetry-is-the-most-direct-and-simple-means-of-expressing-oneself-in/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“... to be in any sort of relationship where you do not express yourself, simply to keep the peace, is a relationship ruled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/to-be-in-any-sort-of-relationship-where-you-do-not-express-yourself/) [Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/) > [To refer even in passing to unpublished or struggling authors and their problems is to put oneself at some risk, so I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/to-refer-even-in-passing-to-unpublished-or-struggling-authors-and/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) ## More by Asger Jorn > [The great work of art is the complete banality, and the fault with most banalities is that they are not banal enough. Banality here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-great-work-of-art-is-the-complete-banality-and-the-fault-with/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [Being an artist is being an isolated individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/being-an-artist-is-being-an-isolated-individual/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [We are not talking about a new cognition in relation to abstract art, rather a new area of cognition...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/we-are-not-talking-about-a-new-cognition-in-relation-to-abstract-art/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [To break and be able to grow together again in a better way: that is the difficult art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/to-break-and-be-able-to-grow-together-again-in-a-better-way-that-is/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [If the image was sketched onto the canvas and spontaneously drawn, colour would often be restrained and unfree... The most important and the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/if-the-image-was-sketched-onto-the-canvas-and-spontaneously-drawn/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [Everything is in constant flux, from state to state, from good to bad and back again…, only in transmutation, perpetual motion, lies truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/everything-is-in-constant-flux-from-state-to-state-from-good-to-bad/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [Beautiful, ugly, impressive, disgusting, meaningless, grim, contradictory etc … It makes no difference, as long as it is life, vigorously pouring forth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/beautiful-ugly-impressive-disgusting-meaningless-grim-contradictory/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [To get anywhere, one must choose one's mistakes. I chose experimental acts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/to-get-anywhere-one-must-choose-one-s-mistakes-i-chose-experimental/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [Anything really new is repulsive, because it is abnormal and unreasonable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/anything-really-new-is-repulsive-because-it-is-abnormal-and/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [My work is based on a tradition quite distinct from the Eckersberg tradition, a Nordic line of development that had never been clearly and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/my-work-is-based-on-a-tradition-quite-distinct-from-the-eckersberg/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [There can be no question of selecting in any direction, but of penetrating the whole cosmic law of rhythms, forces and material that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/there-can-be-no-question-of-selecting-in-any-direction-but-of/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [We are sparks that must glow as brightly as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/we-are-sparks-that-must-glow-as-brightly-as-possible/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [The reverse process is extremely important to me - that artistic images can inspire to words and different myths, and that in certain cultures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-reverse-process-is-extremely-important-to-me-that-artistic-images/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [In the beginning was the image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/in-the-beginning-was-the-image/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) > [A creative train of thought is set off by: the unexpected, the unknown, the accidental, the disorderly, the absurd, the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/a-creative-train-of-thought-is-set-off-by-the-unexpected-the-unknown/) [Asger Jorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) [Explore all 39 Asger Jorn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/) ## More Expressing oneself quotes > [I was probably 14 or 15 when I was first on stage at school doing 'Measure for Measure.' I immediately felt it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiwetel-ejiofor/i-was-probably-14-or-15-when-i-was-first-on-stage-at-school-doing/) [Chiwetel Ejiofor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiwetel-ejiofor/) > [To me, ultimately, martial arts means honestly expressing yourself. Now, it is very difficult to do. It has always been very easy for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-me-ultimately-martial-arts-means-honestly-expressing-yourself-now/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“... to be in any sort of relationship where you do not express yourself, simply to keep the peace, is a relationship ruled by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronnie-ware/to-be-in-any-sort-of-relationship-where-you-do-not-express-yourself/) [Bronnie Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronnie-ware/) > [Poetry is the most direct and simple means of expressing oneself in words: the most primitive nations have poetry, but only quitewell developed civilizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/poetry-is-the-most-direct-and-simple-means-of-expressing-oneself-in/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Free men can easily become enslaved, if they let others do their thinking and talking, instead of using their own heads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-puz/free-men-can-easily-become-enslaved-if-they-let-others-do-their/) [Richard Puz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-puz/) > [Blankly expressing oneself can be stronger than words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-morabito/blankly-expressing-oneself-can-be-stronger-than-words/) [Paul Morabito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-morabito/) > [Expressing oneself is like a drug. I'm so addicted to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/expressing-oneself-is-like-a-drug-i-m-so-addicted-to-it/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“I like to play outside of the box they have made for me. I was born this way. That's how my brain works. Create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-rose-snelling/i-like-to-play-outside-of-the-box-they-have-made-for-me-i-was-born/) [Sara Rose Snelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-rose-snelling/) > [“Stop wearing that mask that is trying to be a match for everybody, and realise that you have to have more of a 1s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/stop-wearing-that-mask-that-is-trying-to-be-a-match-for-everybody-and/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [“Language is the gateway of the mind and a bridge that connects us to other human beings. Language enables a person to share their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/language-is-the-gateway-of-the-mind-and-a-bridge-that-connects-us-to/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“The most meaningful way to express your friendship and enmity is saying nothing at all”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-most-meaningful-way-to-express-your-friendship-and-enmity-is/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [“After all, work is the primary vehicle for most people to express themselves in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudhakar-ram/after-all-work-is-the-primary-vehicle-for-most-people-to-express/) [Sudhakar Ram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudhakar-ram/) > [“Funny how we do not realize the true value and legacy of a living icon until they suddenly pass away. Truth is, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/funny-how-we-do-not-realize-the-true-value-and-legacy-of-a-living/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [ Evidence that \[feminine aesthetic preferences and ways of expressing oneself\] may be hardwired comes from the fact that they typically appear early in childhood… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-serano/evidence-that-feminine-aesthetic-preferences-and-ways-of-expressing/) [Julia Serano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-serano/) [Browse all 15 Expressing oneself quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressing-oneself/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The act of expressing oneself is a physical one. It materializes the thought.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Asger Jorn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physical-one-it-materializes-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Expressing oneself" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physical-one-it-materializes-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f6/asger-jorn-16504_expressing-oneself_the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physi_2304858.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The act of expressing oneself is a physical one. It materializes the thought.” — Asger Jorn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Asger Jorn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asger-jorn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The act of expressing oneself is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physical-one-it-materializes-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asger-jorn/the-act-of-expressing-oneself-is-a-physical-one-it-materializes-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```