Art Quote by John Edgar Wideman
“Our thoughts, our language, are always at a distance from whatever they're trying to describe. We have other kinds of languages, like mathematics, like music, like art, but there's always that gap.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 1999
Language can never fully capture experience; art, math, and music each bridge the gap imperfectly.
In simple terms: Words fall short of experience.
Acknowledge limits of language.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- teaching
- writing
- science communication
- music composition
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you express ideas beyond words?
- What medium best conveys your inner thoughts?
Rreliance on language can hinder understanding.