Art Quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne
““And as for Owen Warland, he looked placidly at what seemed the ruin of his life's labor, and which was yet no ruin. He had caught a far other butterfly than this. When the artist rose high enough to achieve the beautiful, the symbol by which he made it perceptible to mortal senses became of little value in his eyes while his spirit possessed itself in the enjoyment of the reality.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne, 1850
The artist, after achieving true beauty, sees symbols as less important than the direct experience of reality.
In simple terms: True art transcends its symbols.
Key Takeaway
Seek the experience, not just the representation.
Themes
art
beauty
spirituality
perception
Mood
contemplative
inspired
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- creative work
- personal reflection
- art criticism
Key Concepts
aesthetic philosophy
transcendence
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance symbol and experience?
- When does symbolism become limiting?
A Different Perspective
Symbols still aid communication for many audiences.
![“Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three [great teachers] did not tell - they catalyzed a burning desire to know. Under their influence, the horizons sprung wide and fear went away and the unknown became knowable. But most important of…” quote by John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84c/john-steinbeck-71_art_teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-t_1738.jpg)
