---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Knowledge and imagination are the life…"
description: "\"Knowledge and imagination are the life buoy and the extra lung for breathing outside the walls of a tainted reality.\" — Hassan Blasim"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg"
---

#  Knowledge and imagination are the life buoy and the extra…

![“Knowledge and imagination are the life buoy and the extra lung for breathing outside the walls of a tainted reality.” quote by Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg)

> “Knowledge and imagination are the life buoy and the extra lung for breathing outside the walls of a tainted reality.”

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Knowledge and imagination help us breathe beyond a corrupted reality.

**In simple terms:** Imagination expands beyond a tainted world.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate learning and creativity.

Themes

knowledge imagination escape reality

Mood

inspired thoughtful

Type

philosophical personal

When to use this quote

- personal growth
- artistic expression
- social critique
- mental health

Key Concepts

critical thinking creativity

Questions to Reflect On

- What knowledge expands your view?
- How does imagination aid coping?

A Different Perspective

Imagination alone may not change reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Buoys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buoys/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/)

## Related quotes

> [The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-true-sign-of-intelligence-is-not-knowledge-but-imagination/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The power of imagination is the ultimate creative power.. no doubt about that. While knowledge defines all we currently know and understand.. imagination points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-power-of-imagination-is-the-ultimate-creative-power-no-doubt/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Imagination is more important than knowledge. Imagination is the language of the soul. Pay attention to your imagination and you will discover all you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/imagination-is-more-important-than-knowledge-imagination-is-the/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-true-sign-of-intelligence-is-not-knowledge-but-imagination-i-have/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Imagination without knowledge may create beautiful things, knowledge without imagination can create only perfect ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/imagination-without-knowledge-may-create-beautiful-things-knowledge/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Scientists and philosophers tend to treat knowledge, imagination and love as if they were all very separate parts of human nature. But when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-gopnik/scientists-and-philosophers-tend-to-treat-knowledge-imagination-and/)

[Alison Gopnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-gopnik/)

> [“Imagination is better than knowledge, with imagination we can create endless ideas,knowledge born from imagination . الخيال أفضل من المعرفة، مع الخيال يمكننا خلق أفكار لا نهاية لها، المعرفة تولد من الخيال”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hicham-lm-kamelionaire/imagination-is-better-than-knowledge-with-imagination-we-can-create/)

[Hicham LM Kamelionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hicham-lm-kamelionaire/)

> [“The philosopher Edmund Burke said “there is a boundary to men’s passions when they act from feelings; but none when they are under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/the-philosopher-edmund-burke-said-there-is-a-boundary-to-men-s-3/)

[Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/)

> [I just had a crazy, wild imagination all my life, and science fiction is the greatest outlet for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-just-had-a-crazy-wild-imagination-all-my-life-and-science-fiction/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [“In this way, I was able to place my own concerns aside and curl myself up in the cocoon of somebody else's imagination. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kerrigan/in-this-way-i-was-able-to-place-my-own-concerns-aside-and-curl-myself/)

[Kate Kerrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kerrigan/)

> [If you've no imagination, life will be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/if-you-ve-no-imagination-life-will-be-boring/)

[Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/)

> [“Imagination sees the complete reality, - it is where past, present and future meet... Imagination is limited neither to the reality which is apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/imagination-sees-the-complete-reality-it-is-where-past-present-and/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [“Imagination is the life force of the genius code. This force amplifies and colors every other piece of the code, and unlocks our potential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-patrick/imagination-is-the-life-force-of-the-genius-code-this-force-amplifies/)

[Sean Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-patrick/)

> [“A life without imagination would not be a life well lived. Colour your thoughts and paint the shared skies with your dreams for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/a-life-without-imagination-would-not-be-a-life-well-lived-colour-your/)

Truth Devour

> [I have an imagination because my life is so boring that my imagination lets me get off the reality of what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-attell/i-have-an-imagination-because-my-life-is-so-boring-that-my/)

[Dave Attell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-attell/)

## More by Hassan Blasim

> [I'm not much interested in prizes, whether from the Arab world or from the Western world. Writing is a very difficult process and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-m-not-much-interested-in-prizes-whether-from-the-arab-world-or-from/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [We used to watch executions. I mentioned that in one of my stories. There was a piece of open ground near the area where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/we-used-to-watch-executions-i-mentioned-that-in-one-of-my-stories/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [It's ridiculous and painful to use the Arabic of an Iraqi poet who lived centuries ago to describe what we in Iraq are suffering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/it-s-ridiculous-and-painful-to-use-the-arabic-of-an-iraqi-poet-who/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [The trail of "secret migration" was a shock to me. I knew a little about the difficulties, just bits of news in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/the-trail-of-secret-migration-was-a-shock-to-me-i-knew-a-little-about/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [How can one talk in a classical language about a child who's torn apart in an explosion in the market near his school? People…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/how-can-one-talk-in-a-classical-language-about-a-child-who-s-torn/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [“...I believe in dreams more than I believe in God. Dreams get into you and leave, then come back with new fruit, but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-believe-in-dreams-more-than-i-believe-in-god-dreams-get-into-you/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [I'm talking about the essence of humanity. Hope is mixed into the blood of every human being, everywhere and in every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-m-talking-about-the-essence-of-humanity-hope-is-mixed-into-the/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [“On more than one occasion I heard how life apparently advances, moves on, sets sail or, at worst, apparently crawls slowly forward. My life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/on-more-than-one-occasion-i-heard-how-life-apparently-advances-moves/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [“The pleasure I found in reading books was disconcerting...I felt anxious about every new piece of information. I would latch onto one particular detail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/the-pleasure-i-found-in-reading-books-was-disconcerting-i-felt/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [The Iran-Iraq war began the same year that I went to primary school, at the age of six.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/the-iran-iraq-war-began-the-same-year-that-i-went-to-primary-school/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [Some Iraqi writers are more daring today and have excellent imaginations and their material is rich in human experience. But the Arab prizes, once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/some-iraqi-writers-are-more-daring-today-and-have-excellent/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> ["Secret migration" across borders is a form of human degradation and evidence of the depravity of the human conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/secret-migration-across-borders-is-a-form-of-human-degradation-and/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [“The operation would be in a week...I didn't know if I would survive. How I longed to go back to reading! There was nowhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/the-operation-would-be-in-a-week-i-didn-t-know-if-i-would-survive-how/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [“I wanted to reach back to other times I might have lived in, the traces of which are scattered to places I previously thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-wanted-to-reach-back-to-other-times-i-might-have-lived-in-the/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

> [ I didn't start publishing literary texts until I had left Iraq. At the Academy \[of Cinematic Arts\] I was busy with short films. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/i-didn-t-start-publishing-literary-texts-until-i-had-left-iraq-at-the/)

[Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

[Explore all 47 Hassan Blasim quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/)

## More Breathing quotes

> [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/)

[Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/)

> [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/)

[Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/)

> [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/)

[Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/)

> [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/)

[Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/)

> [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/)

Marcel Williams

> [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/)

[Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/)

> [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/)

[Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/)

> [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/)

[Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/)

> [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [He’d moved toward me again. His hands released mine and moved to my waist, and I noticed I wasn’t the only one breathing heavily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/he-d-moved-toward-me-again-his-hands-released-mine-and-moved-to-my/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [My worry is that opera will become an historic art form as opposed to a living, breathing thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-fleming/my-worry-is-that-opera-will-become-an-historic-art-form-as-opposed-to/)

[Renee Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-fleming/)

> [I'm really fascinated and you know I've been wondering about that usage of language, various breathing techniques and why in these practices language is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-acker/i-m-really-fascinated-and-you-know-i-ve-been-wondering-about-that/)

[Kathy Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-acker/)

> [I’m exactly right for you, Bella. It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/)

[Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/)

[Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Knowledge and imagination are the life buoy and the extra lung for breathing outside the walls of a tainted reality.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hassan Blasim"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-buoy-and-the-extra-lung-for/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Breathing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-buoy-and-the-extra-lung-for/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45b/hassan-blasim-14317_breathing_knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-b_2917437.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Knowledge and imagination are the life buoy and the extra lung for breathing outside the walls of a tainted…” — Hassan Blasim",
                "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": "Hassan Blasim",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Knowledge and imagination are the life...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-buoy-and-the-extra-lung-for/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/knowledge-and-imagination-are-the-life-buoy-and-the-extra-lung-for/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
