Add Quote by C. S. Lewis
“A work of (whatever) art can be either 'received' or 'used'. ...'Using' is inferior to 'reception' because art, if used rather than received, merely facilitates, brightens, relieves or palliates our life, and does not add to it ... When the art in question is literature a complication arises, for to 'receive' significant words is always, in one sense, to 'use' them, to go through and beyond them to an imagined something which is not itself verbal.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “On the Use of Literature”, 1942
Art is best appreciated when received, not merely used for utility.
In simple terms: True art enriches beyond practical use.
Key Takeaway
Seek depth over convenience.
Themes
art
literature
experience
Mood
contemplative
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
When to use this quote
- reading
- museum visits
- creative writing
Key Concepts
aesthetic value
transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- Can you find utility in art without losing its depth?
- When does art become a tool?
A Different Perspective
Utility can be valuable in functional contexts.
