--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagination is not something apart and…" description: "\"Imagination is not something apart and hermetic, not a way of leaving reality behind; it is a way of engaging reality.\" — Irving Howe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg" --- # Imagination is not something apart and hermetic, not a way… ![“Imagination is not something apart and hermetic, not a way of leaving reality behind; it is a way of engaging reality.” quote by Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg) > “Imagination is not something apart and hermetic, not a way of leaving reality behind; it is a way of engaging reality.” [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination should be used to actively shape and understand reality, not escape it. **In simple terms:** Use imagination to engage the world. Key Takeaway Apply creative thinking to real problems. Themes creativity engagement reality Mood inspirational thoughtful analytical Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - design thinking - education - artistic practice - problem solving Key Concepts imaginative cognition critical thinking innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can imagination improve daily decisions? - When does imagination become escapism? A Different Perspective Imagination alone cannot solve practical constraints without action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) ## Related quotes > [Leaving reality television after 10 years, people have gotten to know me and been on this journey with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/porsha-williams/leaving-reality-television-after-10-years-people-have-gotten-to-know/) [Porsha Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/porsha-williams/) > [Wishes are a good way of leaving reality behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wishes-are-a-good-way-of-leaving-reality-behind/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The left have not the ability to get into reality in any way, shape, manner, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-have-not-the-ability-to-get-into-reality-in-any-way-shape/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“For is it not written that you must again become a little child to enter the Kingdom? 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The trick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/our-normal-expectations-about-reality-are-created-by-a-social/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [I'm not one of these actors who's out of touch with reality, put it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-klattenhoff/i-m-not-one-of-these-actors-who-s-out-of-touch-with-reality-put-it/) [Diego Klattenhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-klattenhoff/) ## More by Irving Howe > [One great flaw in the reforming passion is that in its eagerness to remedy social wrongs it tends to neglect, certainly to undervalue, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/one-great-flaw-in-the-reforming-passion-is-that-in-its-eagerness-to/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Modernity consists in a revolt against the prevailing style, an unyielding rage against the official order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/modernity-consists-in-a-revolt-against-the-prevailing-style-an/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [I was in a garden at the Rodin Museum. For a few minutes I was alone, sitting on a bench between two long hedges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/i-was-in-a-garden-at-the-rodin-museum-for-a-few-minutes-i-was-alone/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [The most glorious vision of the intellectual life is still that which is loosely called humanist: the idea of a mind committed yet dispassionate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/the-most-glorious-vision-of-the-intellectual-life-is-still-that-which/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Could we say that the short short is to other kinds of fiction somewhat as the lyric is to other kinds of poetry? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/could-we-say-that-the-short-short-is-to-other-kinds-of-fiction/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [“The usual short story cannot have a complex plot, but it often has a simple one resembling a chain with two or three links.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/the-usual-short-story-cannot-have-a-complex-plot-but-it-often-has-a/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [“There is utopia and utopia. The kind imposed by an elite in the name of a historical imperative—that utopia is hell. It must lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/there-is-utopia-and-utopia-the-kind-imposed-by-an-elite-in-the-name/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Sometimes ... the short short appears to rest on nothing more than a fragile anecdote which the writer has managed to drape with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/sometimes-the-short-short-appears-to-rest-on-nothing-more-than-a/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Comedy speaks for civilization; farce bears an ill-concealed, sometimes unconcealed animus against civilization. Often against civility too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/comedy-speaks-for-civilization-farce-bears-an-ill-concealed-sometimes/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [Good readers make much out of little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/good-readers-make-much-out-of-little/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [The knowledge that makes us cherish innocence makes innocence unattainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/the-knowledge-that-makes-us-cherish-innocence-makes-innocence/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [The message of guidance that neither politics nor philosophy nor religion now seems able to provide, we look for in modern literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/the-message-of-guidance-that-neither-politics-nor-philosophy-nor/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [No one has ever seen the self. It has no visible shape, nor does it occupy measurable space. It is an abstraction, like other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/no-one-has-ever-seen-the-self-it-has-no-visible-shape-nor-does-it/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [“There can't be much development of action or theme in such stories, but at least there is some. By contrast, in the short short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/there-can-t-be-much-development-of-action-or-theme-in-such-stories/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) > [“About some books we feel that our reluctance to return to them is the true measure of our admiration. It is hard to suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/about-some-books-we-feel-that-our-reluctance-to-return-to-them-is-the/) [Irving Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) [Explore all 20 Irving Howe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/) ## More Engaging quotes > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Engaging the city around us and ministering to its needs reveal to us the remaining bastions of sin in our lives, the areas we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-chandler/engaging-the-city-around-us-and-ministering-to-its-needs-reveal-to-us/) [Matt Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-chandler/) > [It takes little or nothing to undo reputations, the merest trifle makes and remakes them, it is simply a question of finding the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/it-takes-little-or-nothing-to-undo-reputations-the-merest-trifle/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [If you are a friend of the Constitution as I am, I hope you will consider engaging me in the topics of my posts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jay-hooker/if-you-are-a-friend-of-the-constitution-as-i-am-i-hope-you-will/) [John Jay Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jay-hooker/) > [Quality afterschool programs provide safe, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/quality-afterschool-programs-provide-safe-engaging-and-fun-learning/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) > [I love performing live and engaging with my fans on-ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-randhawa/i-love-performing-live-and-engaging-with-my-fans-on-ground/) [Guru Randhawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-randhawa/) > [If we do not wish to fight, we can prevent the enemy from engaging us even though the lines of our encampment be merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/if-we-do-not-wish-to-fight-we-can-prevent-the-enemy-from-engaging-us/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [There is no reason why challenging themes and engaging stories have to be mutually exclusive - in fact, each can fuel the other. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-zwick/there-is-no-reason-why-challenging-themes-and-engaging-stories-have/) [Edward Zwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-zwick/) > [The good news is that economists are intelligent, engaging and often charming folks. The bad news is their work is often of little use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/the-good-news-is-that-economists-are-intelligent-engaging-and-often/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [If you understand writing as primarily engaging an imaginary reader, well, you've kind of been doing that your whole life. You walk into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/if-you-understand-writing-as-primarily-engaging-an-imaginary-reader/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The poem is the device through which the ordinary world is seen in a new way - engaging, compelling, even beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-kooser/the-poem-is-the-device-through-which-the-ordinary-world-is-seen-in-a/) [Ted Kooser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-kooser/) > [An excellent introduction to the rise and fall of the British Raj, accurate, succinct, and engaging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-wolpert/an-excellent-introduction-to-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-british-raj/) Stanley Wolpert > [Gossip is certainly one of the things that language is useful for, because it's always handy to know who needs a favor, who can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/gossip-is-certainly-one-of-the-things-that-language-is-useful-for/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [When I'm starting to feel, "How many more people are there?" I go slower. I ask questions, and that person engaging with me gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/when-i-m-starting-to-feel-how-many-more-people-are-there-i-go-slower/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) Browse all 595 Engaging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagination is not something apart and hermetic, not a way of leaving reality behind; it is a way of engaging reality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irving Howe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-hermetic-not-a-way-of-leaving/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Engaging" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-hermetic-not-a-way-of-leaving/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/320/irving-howe-27693_engaging_imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-h_281307.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagination is not something apart and hermetic, not a way of leaving reality behind; it is a way of…” — Irving Howe", "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": "Irving Howe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-howe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Imagination is not something apart and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-hermetic-not-a-way-of-leaving/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-howe/imagination-is-not-something-apart-and-hermetic-not-a-way-of-leaving/#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 } } ] } ```