Altars Quote by H. G. Wells
![“[A novel by Henry James] is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently place, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/699/h-g-wells-1122_altars_a-novel-by-henry-james-is-like-a-church_158550.jpg)
“[A novel by Henry James] is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently place, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.”
About This Quote
A novel can be an intimate, focused sanctuary, presenting stark, unsettling images that demand contemplation.
In simple terms: A book can be a quiet, intense space with vivid symbols.
Key Takeaway
Engage deeply with focused literary experiences.
Themes
literature
focus
symbolism
Mood
introspective
poetic
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- reading
- meditation
- creative writing
- analysis
Key Concepts
art
psychology
spirituality
Questions to Reflect On
- What symbols in a story resonate with you?
- How does a focused setting affect your emotions?
A Different Perspective
Intense focus may overwhelm some readers.
![“The thing [Henry James'] novel is about is always there. It is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently placed, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19f/h-g-wells-2-1299_books_the-thing-henry-james-novel-is-about-is_138893.jpg)
![“The only way [the book can be written] is to set the unbook-the gilt-framed portrait of the book-right there on the altar and sacrifice it, truly sacrifice it. Only then may the book, the real live flawed finite book, slowly, sentence by carnal sentence, appear.” quote by Bonnie Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1b3/bonnie-friedman-26515_altars_the-only-way-the-book-can-be-written-is_2960677.jpg)
![“The crisis [the Great Depression] discovered a great man in Franklin Roosevelt...None too soon he has carried America forward to the second stage of democratic realization. His New Deal involves such collective controls of the national business that it would be absurd to call it anything but…” quote by H. G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/772/h-g-wells-1122_absurd_the-crisis-the-great-depression-discover_120950.jpg)
