Addresses Quote by Geoffrey Hill
“We are difficult. Human beings are difficult. We're difficult to ourselves, we're difficult to each other. And we are mysteries to ourselves, we are mysteries to each other. One encounters in any ordinary day far more real difficulty than one confronts in the most “intellectual” piece of work. Why is it believed that poetry, prose, painting, music should be less than we are? Why does music, why does poetry have to address us in simplified terms, when if such simplification were applied to a description of our own inner selves we would find it demeaning?”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview, 1995, BBC Radio 3
The quote highlights human complexity and the tendency to oversimplify art, ignoring deeper inner struggles.
In simple terms: People are complex; art shouldn't simplify us.
Key Takeaway
Embrace complexity in self and art.
Themes
complexity
art
self‑knowledge
communication
misunderstanding
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
critical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- creative process
- teaching
- mental health counseling
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
aesthetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we honor complexity in creative work?
- What risks arise from simplifying human experience?
A Different Perspective
Art often reduces nuance, limiting true understanding.
![“[T]he appropriate form of address between man and man ought to be, not monsieur, sir, but fellow sufferer, compagnon de miseres.” quote by Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/be6/arthur-schopenhauer-226_addresses_t-he-appropriate-form-of-address-between_32897.jpg)
