Gates of heaven Quote by Philip K. Dick
““I can see Richard Wagner standing at the gates of heaven. "You have to let me in," he says. "I wrote Parsifal . It has to do with the Grail, Christ, suffering, pity and healing. Right?" And they answer, "Well, we read it and it makes no sense." SLAM .””
About This Quote
Source Novel: VALIS by Philip K. Dick, 1981
A visionary imagines Wagner pleading for entry to heaven, but his grand, religious opera is dismissed as incomprehensible.
In simple terms: Even profound art can be misunderstood.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that meaning may be lost on some audiences.
Themes
art
misunderstanding
spirituality
Mood
conflicted
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- theological debate
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
existentialism
theology
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this say about the limits of artistic communication?
- How do we judge the value of misunderstood works?
A Different Perspective
Not everyone shares the same cultural or religious reference points.
![“Death when to death a death by death hath given Then shall be op't the long shut gates of heaven. [Mors, mortis morti mortem nisi morte dedisset (dedisses).]” quote by Thomas Heywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ece/thomas-heywood-46270_death_death-when-to-death-a-death-by-death-hat_315213.jpg)
