--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The heart is commonly reached, not…" description: "\"The heart is commonly reached, not through the reason, but through the imagination, by means of direct impressions, by the testimony of facts and event..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/john-henry-newman-2366_conclusion_the-heart-is-commonly-reached-not-throug_1027328.jpg" --- # The heart is commonly reached, not through the reason, but… ![“The heart is commonly reached, not through the reason, but through the imagination, by means of direct impressions, by the testimony of facts and events, by history, by description. Persons influence us, voices melt us, looks subdue us, deeds inflame us. Many a man will live and die upon a dogma…” quote by John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/john-henry-newman-2366_conclusion_the-heart-is-commonly-reached-not-throug_1027328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/john-henry-newman-2366_conclusion_the-heart-is-commonly-reached-not-throug_1027328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae5/john-henry-newman-2366_conclusion_the-heart-is-commonly-reached-not-throug_1027328.jpg) > “The heart is commonly reached, not through the reason, but through the imagination, by means of direct impressions, by the testimony of facts and events, by history, by description. Persons influence us, voices melt us, looks subdue us, deeds inflame us. Many a man will live and die upon a dogma; no man will be a martyr for a conclusion.” [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination and lived experience shape belief more than abstract reasoning; personal influence and emotional impact drive conviction. **In simple terms:** Feelings and stories shape belief more than facts. Key Takeaway Seek experiences that move you, not just logical arguments. Themes imagination influence belief emotion Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - education - political persuasion - marketing - media consumption Key Concepts philosophy psychology human nature Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance reason and imagination in decisions? - What experiences have most shaped your beliefs? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on emotion can lead to bias and manipulation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Dogma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogma/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Martyr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/martyr/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [In later life, as in earlier, only a few persons influence the formation of our character; the multitude pass us by like a distant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul/in-later-life-as-in-earlier-only-a-few-persons-influence-the/) [Jean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul/) > [“We spend our lives striving to be persons of influence and consequence, when all that is required is to consistently do good to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psyche-roxas-mendoza/we-spend-our-lives-striving-to-be-persons-of-influence-and/) [Psyche Roxas-Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psyche-roxas-mendoza/) > [Reason is nothing without imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/reason-is-nothing-without-imagination/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [The dream of reason produces monsters. Imagination deserted by reason creates impossible, useless thoughts. United with reason, imagination is the mother of all art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francisco-goya/the-dream-of-reason-produces-monsters-imagination-deserted-by-reason/) [Francisco Goya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francisco-goya/) > [“Philosophic thoughts allow people to use human reason and imagination to consider eternal matters and explore the ramifications of their own transience. American author…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/philosophic-thoughts-allow-people-to-use-human-reason-and-imagination/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [Happiness is not an ideal of reason, but of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/happiness-is-not-an-ideal-of-reason-but-of-imagination/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [All things are from God; and above all, reason and imagination and the great gifts of the mind. They are good in themselves; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-things-are-from-god-and-above-all-reason-and-imagination-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There's no reason for your imagination to be fettered by money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccloud/there-s-no-reason-for-your-imagination-to-be-fettered-by-money/) [Kevin McCloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccloud/) > [“Where my reason, imagination or interest were not engaged, I would not or I could not learn.” (Winston Churchill)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/where-my-reason-imagination-or-interest-were-not-engaged-i-would-not-2/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Fear of error which everything recalls to me at every moment of the flight of my ideas, this mania for control, makes men prefer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-aragon/fear-of-error-which-everything-recalls-to-me-at-every-moment-of-the/) [Louis Aragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-aragon/) > [Talent, lying in the understanding, is often inherited; genius, being the action of reason or imagination, rarely or never.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/talent-lying-in-the-understanding-is-often-inherited-genius-being-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“The interior life is often stupid. Its egoism blinds it and deafens it; its imagination spins out ignorant tales, fascinated. It fancies that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/the-interior-life-is-often-stupid-its-egoism-blinds-it-and-deafens-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Where my reason, imagination or interest were not engaged, I would not or I could not learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/where-my-reason-imagination-or-interest-were-not-engaged-i-would-not/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“The great thinkers have long pointed to a connection between creativity and happiness. "Happiness," Kant once said, "is an ideal not of reason but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/the-great-thinkers-have-long-pointed-to-a-connection-between/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [A thousand fearful images and dire suggestions glance along the mind when it is moody and discontented with itself. Command them to stand and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/a-thousand-fearful-images-and-dire-suggestions-glance-along-the-mind/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## More by John Henry Newman > [Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather that it shall ever have a beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/fear-not-that-thy-life-shall-come-to-an-end-but-rather-that-it-shall/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [It is not God's way that great blessings should descend without the sacrifice first of great sufferings. If the truth is to be spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-not-god-s-way-that-great-blessings-should-descend-without-the/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [By a garden is meant mystically a place of spiritual repose, stillness, peace, refreshment, delight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/by-a-garden-is-meant-mystically-a-place-of-spiritual-repose-stillness/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Fear not that thy life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/fear-not-that-thy-life-shall-come-to-an-end-but-rather-fear-that-it/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“The minds of young people are pliable and elastic, and easily accommodate themselves to any one they fall in with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/the-minds-of-young-people-are-pliable-and-elastic-and-easily/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [The love of our private friends is the only preparatory exercise for the love of all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/the-love-of-our-private-friends-is-the-only-preparatory-exercise-for/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [A universityeducates the intellect to reason well in all matters, to reach out towards truth, and to grasp it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/a-universityeducates-the-intellect-to-reason-well-in-all-matters-to/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Nothing would be done at all if one waited until one could do it so well that no one could find fault with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/nothing-would-be-done-at-all-if-one-waited-until-one-could-do-it-so/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Christ is already in that place of peace, which is all in all. He is on the right hand of God. He is hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/christ-is-already-in-that-place-of-peace-which-is-all-in-all-he-is-on/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Growth is the only evidence of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/growth-is-the-only-evidence-of-life/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [“Mr Kingsley begins then by exclaiming- 'O the chicanery, the wholesale fraud, the vile hypocrisy, the conscience-killing tyranny of Rome! We have not far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/mr-kingsley-begins-then-by-exclaiming-o-the-chicanery-the-wholesale/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [There is in stillness oft a magic power To calm the breast when struggling passions lower, Touched by its influence, in the soul arise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/there-is-in-stillness-oft-a-magic-power-to-calm-the-breast-when/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [Dear Lord...shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul...Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/dear-lord-shine-through-me-and-be-so-in-me-that-every-soul-i-come-in/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say that he is one who never inflicts pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/it-is-almost-a-definition-of-a-gentleman-to-say-that-he-is-one-who/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [To be deep in history, is to cease to be Protestant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/to-be-deep-in-history-is-to-cease-to-be-protestant/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) [Explore all 168 John Henry Newman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) ## More Conclusion quotes > [I'm not going to be part of looking at information only partially. 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If you draw conclusions too quickly or too slowly, you’ll establish your self where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-ruiter/your-deeper-sense-isn-t-a-springboard-it-s-a-landing-place-if-you/) [John de Ruiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-ruiter/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wolfe/every-study-on-chocolate-is-pointing-to-the-same-conclusion-there-is/) [David Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wolfe/) > [I have come to the definite conclusion that musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinichi-suzuki/i-have-come-to-the-definite-conclusion-that-musical-ability-is-not-an/) [Shinichi Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinichi-suzuki/) > [Study how a society uses its land, and you can come to pretty reliable conclusions as to what its future will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-f-schumacher/study-how-a-society-uses-its-land-and-you-can-come-to-pretty-reliable/) [E. F. Schumacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-f-schumacher/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That's what politics is. It's the story of what's happening, what does it mean, what's the conclusion, who are the interesting characters?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dickerson/that-s-what-politics-is-it-s-the-story-of-what-s-happening-what-does/) [John Dickerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dickerson/) > [It's my firm conclusion that human meaning comes from humans, not from a supernatural source. After we die, our hopes for an afterlife reside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/it-s-my-firm-conclusion-that-human-meaning-comes-from-humans-not-from/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [To each eye, perhaps, the outlines of a great civilization present a different picture. 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