--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we read a literary work (or, in some…" description: "\"When we read a literary work (or, in some instances, listen to music) our imagination is stimulated, we feel various emotions, and we arrive at new jud..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg" --- # When we read a literary work (or, in some instances… ![“When we read a literary work (or, in some instances, listen to music) our imagination is stimulated, we feel various emotions, and we arrive at new judgments. These attitudes are brought into relation with many others, including our standing tendencies to think and feel in particular ways, and we…” quote by Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg) > “When we read a literary work (or, in some instances, listen to music) our imagination is stimulated, we feel various emotions, and we arrive at new judgments. These attitudes are brought into relation with many others, including our standing tendencies to think and feel in particular ways, and we try to fit our psychological capacities and responses together.” [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Engaging with literature or music activates imagination, emotions, and judgment, linking them to personal biases and mental habits. **In simple terms:** Art stimulates mind and feelings, shaping judgments and revealing personal biases. Key Takeaway Use art to explore and challenge your own thinking patterns. Themes imagination emotion judgment selfawareness Mood reflective curious introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading novels - listening to music - creative writing - critical discussion Key Concepts aesthetic experience psychological integration Questions to Reflect On - How does this work change your view of yourself? - What emotions arise and why? A Different Perspective May reinforce existing biases if not reflected upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Listening to music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-to-music/) [Literary work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-work/) [Literary works](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-works/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Psychological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychological/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [If the literature we are reading does not wake us, why then do we read it? A literary work must be an ice-axe to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/if-the-literature-we-are-reading-does-not-wake-us-why-then-do-we-read/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [This is how I understand literature - as a kind of remix or echo chamber. What's going on in a literary work are other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/this-is-how-i-understand-literature-as-a-kind-of-remix-or-echo/) Tommy McCarthy > [Every few seconds a new book sees the light of day. Most of them will just be a part of the hum that makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-klima/every-few-seconds-a-new-book-sees-the-light-of-day-most-of-them-will/) [Ivan Klíma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-klima/) > [I am more affected by the attractions of virtue than by the deformities of vice; I turn gently away from the wicked and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/i-am-more-affected-by-the-attractions-of-virtue-than-by-the/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [SERIAL, n. A literary work, usually a story that is not true, creeping through several issues of a newspaper or magazine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/serial-n-a-literary-work-usually-a-story-that-is-not-true-creeping/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I enjoyed Jonathan Franzen's 'Freedom.' Would I make that into a film? I think it's better suited to television. That would very much be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-weir/i-enjoyed-jonathan-franzen-s-freedom-would-i-make-that-into-a-film-i/) [Peter Weir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-weir/) > [A literary work can only be received through symbols, through concepts - for that is what words are; but cinema, like music, allows for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-tarkovsky/a-literary-work-can-only-be-received-through-symbols-through-concepts/) [Andrei Tarkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-tarkovsky/) > [My books are my tools, and the greater their variety and perfection the greater the help to my literary work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tryon-edwards/my-books-are-my-tools-and-the-greater-their-variety-and-perfection/) [Tryon Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tryon-edwards/) > [People can't just listen to the music and have their own imagination and take them where they wanna go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-wilson/people-can-t-just-listen-to-the-music-and-have-their-own-imagination/) [Ann Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-wilson/) > [Music is about imagination. It's about thought. It's about creating something from nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-branca/music-is-about-imagination-it-s-about-thought-it-s-about-creating/) [Glenn Branca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-branca/) > [Without technique, it doesn't matter what your ideas are; you would not be able to do what you want. It's something that you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-li/without-technique-it-doesn-t-matter-what-your-ideas-are-you-would-not/) [George Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-li/) > [If you can't play all the instruments in the orchestra of story, no matter what music may be in your imagination, you're condemned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mckee/if-you-can-t-play-all-the-instruments-in-the-orchestra-of-story-no/) [Robert McKee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mckee/) > [Sometime during the 1990s, when I was teaching philosophy at UCSD, my friend, colleague, and music teacher, Carol Plantamura, discussed the possibility of teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/sometime-during-the-1990s-when-i-was-teaching-philosophy-at-ucsd-my/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [I'm a pluralist about perspectives on literature. There seem to me to be all sorts of illuminating ways of responding to major literary works,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-a-pluralist-about-perspectives-on-literature-there-seem-to-me-to/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [I use biography, I use literary connections (as with Platen - this seems to me extremely helpful for appreciating the nuances of Mann's and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-use-biography-i-use-literary-connections-as-with-platen-this-seems/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) ## More by Philip Kitcher > [I'm a fan of Hugh Kenner, Richard Ellman, Lionel Trilling and Frank Kermode. All these people have taught me how to read - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-a-fan-of-hugh-kenner-richard-ellman-lionel-trilling-and-frank/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Refined religion is aimed at realizing ethical values, including the fostering of human lives and human communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/refined-religion-is-aimed-at-realizing-ethical-values-including-the/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Many of the greatest works of philosophy seem to me to be valuable not because of their arguments, but because they offer us perspectives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/many-of-the-greatest-works-of-philosophy-seem-to-me-to-be-valuable/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [As I read Mann in German for the first time, the full achievement - both literary and philosophical - of Death in Venice struck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/as-i-read-mann-in-german-for-the-first-time-the-full-achievement-both/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Look at Mann's reading habits, his explicit comments on Nietzsche, and his copy of Birth of Tragedy, and it starts to seem doubtful that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/look-at-mann-s-reading-habits-his-explicit-comments-on-nietzsche-and/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [My ethical naturalism sees us as facing the predicament of being social animals without evolved adaptations that make social life easy. The fundamental problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/my-ethical-naturalism-sees-us-as-facing-the-predicament-of-being/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [So my methodological approach is to draw on many different features in highlighting different facets of the novella (and the opera and the film).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/so-my-methodological-approach-is-to-draw-on-many-different-features/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [In my view, we ought to replace the notion of analytic philosophy by that of synthetic philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/in-my-view-we-ought-to-replace-the-notion-of-analytic-philosophy-by/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Philosophers ought to aspire to know lots of different things and to forge useful synthetic perspectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/philosophers-ought-to-aspire-to-know-lots-of-different-things-and-to/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [The balance between literature and philosophy in Schopenhauer and Nietzsche is different from that struck in the novella, but, as Mann clearly pointed out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/the-balance-between-literature-and-philosophy-in-schopenhauer-and/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [I don't think that anything of any consequence is known a priori: all our knowledge is built up by modifying the lore passed on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-don-t-think-that-anything-of-any-consequence-is-known-a-priori-all/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Because the problems are objective features of the human situation - social animals without the capacities for making social life come easily - ethics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/because-the-problems-are-objective-features-of-the-human-situation/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [I'm very concerned about the increasing distortion of research by the intrusion of the market. Universities are beginning to see science as a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/i-m-very-concerned-about-the-increasing-distortion-of-research-by-the/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [There's a disciplined erotic component to it, so that the height of sexual contact is the embrace, the modest touch, a relatively chaste kiss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/there-s-a-disciplined-erotic-component-to-it-so-that-the-height-of/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [The classical allusions and the Platonic disquisitions on beauty are no longer a form of cover, but integral to Aschenbach's complex sexuality. Moreover, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/the-classical-allusions-and-the-platonic-disquisitions-on-beauty-are/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) [Explore all 117 Philip Kitcher quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we read a literary work (or, in some instances, listen to music) our imagination is stimulated, we feel various emotions, and we arrive at new judgments. These attitudes are brought into relation with many others, including our standing tendencies to think and feel in particular ways, and we try to fit our psychological capacities and responses together.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Kitcher" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some-instances-listen-to-music-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some-instances-listen-to-music-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92a/philip-kitcher-4028_attitude_when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some_1632878.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we read a literary work (or, in some instances, listen to music) our imagination is stimulated, we feel…” — Philip Kitcher", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Philip Kitcher", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we read a literary work...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some-instances-listen-to-music-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/when-we-read-a-literary-work-or-in-some-instances-listen-to-music-our/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```