Art Quote by Patti Smith
““...the law of empathy, by which he could, by his will, transfer himself into an object or a work of art, and thus inflence the outer world. He did not feel redeemed by the work he did. He did not seek redemption. He sought to see what others did not, the projection of his imagination.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa, 1913
The quote suggests empathy lets one inhabit others' creations, not for redemption but to perceive unseen imagination.
In simple terms: Empathy lets you see others' work without seeking redemption.
Key Takeaway
Use empathy to understand beyond appearances.
Themes
empathy
creativity
perception
identity
art
Mood
reflective
introspective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- psychology
- creative collaboration
- personal growth
Key Concepts
subjective experience
projection
imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How does inhabiting another's work change your view?
- What limits does empathy have?
A Different Perspective
Empathy may blur personal boundaries, risking loss of self.
![“My art and my self-expression in any form has always been an attempt towards sincerity, honesty, and empathy for others. For a multitude of reasons both professional and personal I no longer feel that this is possible within [Crystal Castles]. Although this is the end of the band, I hope my fans…” quote by Alice Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/325/alice-glass-38946_art_my-art-and-my-self-expression-in-any-for_219529.jpg)
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
![“Sometimes [people] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c73/patti-smith-394_cursing_sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-ou_28268.jpg)
