--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every work of art reaches man in his…" description: "\"Every work of art reaches man in his inner powers. It reaches him more profoundly and insidiously than any rational proposition, either cogent demonstr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/jacques-maritain-8918_abyss_every-work-of-art-reaches-man-in-his-inn_1720361.jpg" --- # Every work of art reaches man in his inner powers. It… ![“Every work of art reaches man in his inner powers. It reaches him more profoundly and insidiously than any rational proposition, either cogent demonstration or sophistry. For it strikes him with two terrible weapons, Intuition and Beauty, and at the single root in him of all his energies... Art…” quote by Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/jacques-maritain-8918_abyss_every-work-of-art-reaches-man-in-his-inn_1720361.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/jacques-maritain-8918_abyss_every-work-of-art-reaches-man-in-his-inn_1720361.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/jacques-maritain-8918_abyss_every-work-of-art-reaches-man-in-his-inn_1720361.jpg) > “Every work of art reaches man in his inner powers. It reaches him more profoundly and insidiously than any rational proposition, either cogent demonstration or sophistry. For it strikes him with two terrible weapons, Intuition and Beauty, and at the single root in him of all his energies... Art and Poetry awaken the dreams of man, and his longings, and reveal to him some of the abysses he has in himself.” [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Art connects deeply with intuition and beauty, influencing inner dreams and energies. **In simple terms:** Art touches intuition and beauty, stirring inner dreams. Key Takeaway Seek art that moves you. Themes art intuition beauty inner self dreams energy Mood contemplative philosophical Type theory inspirational When to use this quote - museum visits - creative writing - meditative practice - art therapy Key Concepts aesthetic experience psychology of art spiritual awakening Questions to Reflect On - How does art affect your inner life? - What forms of beauty inspire you? A Different Perspective Art may not resonate equally with everyone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abyss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abyss/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Demonstration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonstration/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Inner power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-power/) [Inner Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-powers-1332800/) [Intuition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuition/) [Longing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longing/) [Man Longings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-longings-1332799/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Propositions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propositions/) [Rational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rational/) [Reaches Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaches-man-1332801/) [Reaches Profoundly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaches-profoundly-1332802/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Sophistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophistry/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Works of art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/works-of-art/) ## Related quotes > [Education demands, then, only this: the utilization of the inner powers of the child for his own instruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/education-demands-then-only-this-the-utilization-of-the-inner-powers/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Only the development of his inner powers can offset the dangers inherent in man's losing control of the tremendous natural forces at his disposal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-assagioli/only-the-development-of-his-inner-powers-can-offset-the-dangers/) [Roberto Assagioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-assagioli/) > [Man is a tragic animal. Not because of his smallness, but because he is too well endowed. Man has longings and spiritual demands that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-wessel-zapffe/man-is-a-tragic-animal-not-because-of-his-smallness-but-because-he-is/) [Peter Wessel Zapffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-wessel-zapffe/) > [Man would not be man if his dreams did not exceed his grasp... 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Sometimes a storm arises, a formidable current develops, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/i-don-t-see-america-as-a-mainland-but-as-a-sea-a-big-ocean-sometimes/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [It is impossible for a Christian to be a relativist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/it-is-impossible-for-a-christian-to-be-a-relativist/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The light of common sense is fundamentally the same light as that of science, that is to say, the natural light of the intellect.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-light-of-common-sense-is-fundamentally-the-same-light-as-that-of/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Absolute atheism starts in an act of faith in reverse gear and is a full-blown religious commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/absolute-atheism-starts-in-an-act-of-faith-in-reverse-gear-and-is-a/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Poetry proceeds from the totality of man, sense, imagination, intellect, love, desire, instinct, blood and spirit together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/poetry-proceeds-from-the-totality-of-man-sense-imagination-intellect/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The great and admirable strength of America consists in this, that America is truly the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-great-and-admirable-strength-of-america-consists-in-this-that/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [That is why I think, in defiance of Plato, that there is at once error and vulgarity in saying that poetry is a lie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/that-is-why-i-think-in-defiance-of-plato-that-there-is-at-once-error/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The first step to be taken by everyone who wishes to act morally is to decide not to act according to the general customs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-first-step-to-be-taken-by-everyone-who-wishes-to-act-morally-is/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [The only artist who does not deserve respect is the one who works to please the public, for commercial success or for official success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-only-artist-who-does-not-deserve-respect-is-the-one-who-works-to/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Things are opaque to us, and we are opaque to ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/things-are-opaque-to-us-and-we-are-opaque-to-ourselves/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Thus society is born, as something required by nature, and (because this nature is human nature) as something accomplished through a work of reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/thus-society-is-born-as-something-required-by-nature-and-because-this/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [Poetic experience is distinct in nature from mystical experience. Because poetry emanates from the free creativity of the spirit,it is from the very start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/poetic-experience-is-distinct-in-nature-from-mystical-experience/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [We do not need a truth to serve us, we need a truth that we can serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/we-do-not-need-a-truth-to-serve-us-we-need-a-truth-that-we-can-serve/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) [Explore all 76 Jacques Maritain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) ## More Abyss quotes > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [Early on a difficult climb, especially a solo climb, you’re hyper-aware of the abyss pulling at your back, constantly feeling its call, its immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/early-on-a-difficult-climb-especially-a-solo-climb-you-re-hyper-aware/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [“The whole organization seemed to be in free fall, indulging in a collective fantasy in which experienced colleagues refused to admit that their every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-whole-organization-seemed-to-be-in-free-fall-indulging-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Adam became so proud that he wished to become God and died for his pride; the Son of God humbled Himself unto death, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-kronstadt/adam-became-so-proud-that-he-wished-to-become-god-and-died-for-his/) [John of Kronstadt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-kronstadt/) > [The cradle rocks above an abyss, and common sense tells us that our existence is but a brief crack of light between two eternities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/the-cradle-rocks-above-an-abyss-and-common-sense-tells-us-that-our/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [In the end things must be as they are and have always been--the great things remain for the great, the abysses for the profound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-the-end-things-must-be-as-they-are-and-have-always-been-the-great/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I admire the Elsie Tanners and Barbara Windsors of the world: people who have crawled back from the abyss. I'm quite camp in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-eclair/i-admire-the-elsie-tanners-and-barbara-windsors-of-the-world-people/) [Jenny Eclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-eclair/) > [I've been to unpretty places with the roles I've played, and I'm attracted to reckless abandon. I like being taken to the edge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhys-ifans/i-ve-been-to-unpretty-places-with-the-roles-i-ve-played-and-i-m/) [Rhys Ifans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhys-ifans/) > [I look into my heart and see the abyss looking back at me.' 'I won't let you fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/i-look-into-my-heart-and-see-the-abyss-looking-back-at-me-i-won-t-let/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [There is no drop of water in the ocean, not even in the deepest parts of the abyss, that does not know and respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-carson/there-is-no-drop-of-water-in-the-ocean-not-even-in-the-deepest-parts/) [Rachel Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-carson/) > [“But first whom shall we send In search of this new world, whom shall we find Sufficient? Who shall tempt, with wand'ring feet The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-first-whom-shall-we-send-in-search-of-this-new-world-whom-shall/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [Many women don’t know what orgasm is. Many men don’t know was total orgasm is. Many only achieve a local orgasm, a genital orgasm;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-women-don-t-know-what-orgasm-is-many-men-don-t-know-was-total/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fear not. For fear itself is fed by fear, and all fears pass. Did no one tell you so? Come take my hand, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/fear-not-for-fear-itself-is-fed-by-fear-and-all-fears-pass-did-no-one/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) > [God gave the sea the danger and the abyss, but it was in it that He mirrored the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/god-gave-the-sea-the-danger-and-the-abyss-but-it-was-in-it-that-he/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [We belong to an age where apocalypse is our daily bread, coffee's black, and we know we're part of the abyss. Red Spider White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/we-belong-to-an-age-where-apocalypse-is-our-daily-bread-coffee-s/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) [Browse all 625 Abyss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abyss/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every work of art reaches man in his inner powers. It reaches him more profoundly and insidiously than any rational proposition, either cogent demonstration or sophistry. For it strikes him with two terrible weapons, Intuition and Beauty, and at the single root in him of all his energies... 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