--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Use your imaginations, and use your…" description: "\"Use your imaginations, and use your empathy. If you don't do that, you're limiting yourself as an artist, and you're hurting the world.\" — Brett Gelman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/brett-gelman-8521_art_use-your-imaginations-and-use-your-empat_3108225.jpg" --- # Use your imaginations, and use your empathy. If you don't… ![“Use your imaginations, and use your empathy. If you don't do that, you're limiting yourself as an artist, and you're hurting the world.” quote by Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/brett-gelman-8521_art_use-your-imaginations-and-use-your-empat_3108225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/brett-gelman-8521_art_use-your-imaginations-and-use-your-empat_3108225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04c/brett-gelman-8521_art_use-your-imaginations-and-use-your-empat_3108225.jpg) > “Use your imaginations, and use your empathy. If you don't do that, you're limiting yourself as an artist, and you're hurting the world.” [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should blend imagination with empathy; lacking these limits creativity and harms society **In simple terms:** Combine imagination and empathy to avoid artistic limits Key Takeaway Cultivate both creativity and empathy in art Themes creativity empathy responsibility societal impact Mood inspirational thoughtful motivational Type quote philosophical educational When to use this quote - Creative workshops - community art projects - educational curricula Key Concepts Aesthetic theory moral philosophy social influence Questions to Reflect On - How does empathy expand artistic expression? - What practices foster imaginative empathy? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on technique may neglect emotional depth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When people want to inspire you to turn against some group of people, they'll often use empathy. When Obama wanted to bomb Syria, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/when-people-want-to-inspire-you-to-turn-against-some-group-of-people/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [When people want to inspire you to turn against some group of people, they'll often use empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/when-people-want-to-inspire-you-to-turn-against-some-group-of-people-2/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [For the most part, people use "empathy" to mean everything good. For instance, many medical schools have courses in empathy. But if you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/for-the-most-part-people-use-empathy-to-mean-everything-good-for/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [I wondered if there was a way to teach people how to use their imaginations in prayer and worship. So I began reading books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-a-boyd/i-wondered-if-there-was-a-way-to-teach-people-how-to-use-their/) [Gregory A. Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-a-boyd/) > [We tend to intensely scout an area and then use our imaginations to make the best use of the geography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-russo/we-tend-to-intensely-scout-an-area-and-then-use-our-imaginations-to/) [Joe Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-russo/) > [“live only in our minds.  But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless. –Jamie Paolinetti”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/improve-life-books/live-only-in-our-minds-but-if-we-use-our-imaginations-our/) Improve Life Books > [The format's limitations are its strengths. We can't show you the monster, but why would we want to? Your imagination is a darker and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-mcquaid/the-format-s-limitations-are-its-strengths-we-can-t-show-you-the/) [Glenn McQuaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-mcquaid/) > [The world would never amount to a hill of beans if people didn't use their imaginations to think of the impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/the-world-would-never-amount-to-a-hill-of-beans-if-people-didn-t-use/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [I let the audience use their imaginations. Can I help it if they misconstrue my suggestions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-lubitsch/i-let-the-audience-use-their-imaginations-can-i-help-it-if-they/) [Ernst Lubitsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-lubitsch/) > [Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-paolinetti/limitations-live-only-in-our-minds-but-if-we-use-our-imaginations-our/) Jamie Paolinetti > [How can you read this? There's no pictures! Well some people use their imaginations. -Gaston and Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beauty-and-the-beast/how-can-you-read-this-there-s-no-pictures-well-some-people-use-their/) Beauty And The Beast > [We have to be able to use our imaginations to make the character's experiences real to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marvel/we-have-to-be-able-to-use-our-imaginations-to-make-the-character-s/) [Elizabeth Marvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marvel/) > [“Raising our kids in this way-without television, video games, or even a lot of extra friends-I believe they have gained independence and the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-nobel/raising-our-kids-in-this-way-without-television-video-games-or-even-a/) Chris Nobel > [As an actor, you imagine every single day on set. So, as we already use our imaginations every day anyway, we just have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-hutcherson/as-an-actor-you-imagine-every-single-day-on-set-so-as-we-already-use/) [Josh Hutcherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-hutcherson/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) ## More by Brett Gelman > [I think that's something that people don't realize enough about when they get into comedy - it's not just about sitting back and observing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-s-something-that-people-don-t-realize-enough-about-when/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Dinner is often a very celebratory environment, a very safe place, a time to reflect and let the day go and enjoy good food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/dinner-is-often-a-very-celebratory-environment-a-very-safe-place-a/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I honestly don't see how anyone can view the GOP and the Right as anything but evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-honestly-don-t-see-how-anyone-can-view-the-gop-and-the-right-as/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [Deeper things, heavier things happen to you as you get older and makes you more open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/deeper-things-heavier-things-happen-to-you-as-you-get-older-and-makes/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [What a great way to make some money is just fine somebody $300 if their phone rings in the theatre. That'll make them remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/what-a-great-way-to-make-some-money-is-just-fine-somebody-300-if/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I think that all the Mel Brooks' company of actors is just tremendous. It was a crazy group of genius people. All of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-think-that-all-the-mel-brooks-company-of-actors-is-just-tremendous/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I've definitely had my hard partying moments. I've definitely had the long stretches of time in my personal life where I've felt an intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-definitely-had-my-hard-partying-moments-i-ve-definitely-had-the/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I love 'Seinfeld.' That was not alternative. You can't get more in mainstream than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-love-seinfeld-that-was-not-alternative-you-can-t-get-more-in/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I'm not a stranger to depression and desperation. I can be kind of tortured but I do like to have a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-not-a-stranger-to-depression-and-desperation-i-can-be-kind-of/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [As far as making people feel less depressed, that, in and of itself, is a political act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/as-far-as-making-people-feel-less-depressed-that-in-and-of-itself-is/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I'm an obvious example of how everyone is spiraling out of control on the show and just trying to live life the best they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-m-an-obvious-example-of-how-everyone-is-spiraling-out-of-control-on/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [At the end of the day, stand-up comedy is like acting when the audience are the other characters that I'm acting with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/at-the-end-of-the-day-stand-up-comedy-is-like-acting-when-the/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I've wanted to be a comedian since I was a kid, and my parents were very supportive of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-ve-wanted-to-be-a-comedian-since-i-was-a-kid-and-my-parents-were/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I really am not that hairy on my body. It's weird.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-really-am-not-that-hairy-on-my-body-it-s-weird/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) > [I get to live a privileged existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-gelman/i-get-to-live-a-privileged-existence/) [Brett Gelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) [Explore all 80 Brett Gelman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-gelman/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Use your imaginations, and use your empathy. 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