--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now the power of the imagination is a…" description: "\"Now the power of the imagination is a unifying power, hence the force of metaphor; and the poet is the supreme manipulator of metaphor... the world nee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png" --- # Now the power of the imagination is a unifying power… ![“Now the power of the imagination is a unifying power, hence the force of metaphor; and the poet is the supreme manipulator of metaphor... the world needs the unifying power of the imagination. The two things that give it best are poetry and religion.” quote by R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png) > “Now the power of the imagination is a unifying power, hence the force of metaphor; and the poet is the supreme manipulator of metaphor... the world needs the unifying power of the imagination. The two things that give it best are poetry and religion.” [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imagination unites humanity through metaphor, with poetry and religion as its strongest vessels. **In simple terms:** Imagination binds us via metaphor; poetry and religion help. Key Takeaway Cultivate imagination and its expressions. Themes imagination metaphor unity Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - artistic workshops - spiritual gatherings - educational curricula Key Concepts poetry religion creativity Questions to Reflect On - How does metaphor shape your worldview? - Can imagination solve real problems? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on metaphor may obscure practical action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Manipulator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulator/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Unifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unifying/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Clad in metaphor, the world becomes newborn to our senses, like a phoenix. It is the most effective fresh presentation of the elements of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/clad-in-metaphor-the-world-becomes-newborn-to-our-senses-like-a/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [For the message of television as metaphor is not only that all the world is a stage but that the stage is located in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-postman/for-the-message-of-television-as-metaphor-is-not-only-that-all-the/) [Neil Postman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-postman/) > [The mind is a metaphor of the world of objects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-bourdieu/the-mind-is-a-metaphor-of-the-world-of-objects/) [Pierre Bourdieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bourdieu/) > [It is the power of memory that gives rise to the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/it-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [“At times I felt that the universe fabricated from the power of imagination had stronger and more lasting contours than the blurred realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-felt-that-the-universe-fabricated-from-the-power-of/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“We can make our own normal. We can throw out all the rules and write our own. We can build our lives from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle/we-can-make-our-own-normal-we-can-throw-out-all-the-rules-and-write/) [Glennon Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle/) > [It is probable that the principal credit of miracles, visions, enchantments, and such extraordinary occurrences comes from the power of imagination, acting principally upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit-of-miracles-visions/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Want of imagination makes things unreal enough to be destroyed. By imagination I mean knowledge and love. I mean compassion. People of power kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/want-of-imagination-makes-things-unreal-enough-to-be-destroyed-by/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The most important factor in every function is: ‘Is it under our control or not?’ So when imagination is under our control we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/the-most-important-factor-in-every-function-is-is-it-under-our/) [P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/) > [“Real Power: Imagination combined with intellect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-alvi/real-power-imagination-combined-with-intellect/) [Kamil Alvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-alvi/) > [I think really what unites psychedelic people is the faith in the power of the imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/i-think-really-what-unites-psychedelic-people-is-the-faith-in-the/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Both reading and writing are experiences--lifelong-- in the course of which we who encounter words used in certain ways are persuaded by them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/both-reading-and-writing-are-experiences-lifelong-in-the-course-of/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [This, in fact, is the power of the imagination, which, combining the memory of gold with that of the mountain, can compose the idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/this-in-fact-is-the-power-of-the-imagination-which-combining-the/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“Knowledge is borrowed. Imagination is original. It is the power of imagination that makes us different from our animal ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banani-ray/knowledge-is-borrowed-imagination-is-original-it-is-the-power-of/) [Banani Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banani-ray/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by R. S. Thomas > [Is there a place here for the spirit ? Is there time on this brief platform for anything other than mind 's failure to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/is-there-a-place-here-for-the-spirit-is-there-time-on-this-brief/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [The deep spaces between stars , Fathomless as the cold shadow His mind cast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/the-deep-spaces-between-stars-fathomless-as-the-cold-shadow-his-mind/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [To live in Wales is to be conscious at dusk of the spilled blood that went into the making of the wild sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/to-live-in-wales-is-to-be-conscious-at-dusk-of-the-spilled-blood-that/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [Deliver me from the long drought of the mind. Let leaves from the deciduous Cross fall on us, washing us clean, turning our autumn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/deliver-me-from-the-long-drought-of-the-mind-let-leaves-from-the/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [Art is recuperation from time. I lie back convalescing upon the prospect of a harvest already at hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/art-is-recuperation-from-time-i-lie-back-convalescing-upon-the/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [I'm obviously not orthodox, I don't know how many real poets have ever been orthodox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/i-m-obviously-not-orthodox-i-don-t-know-how-many-real-poets-have-ever/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [I have been all men known to history, Wondering at the world and at time passing; I have seen evil, and the light blessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/i-have-been-all-men-known-to-history-wondering-at-the-world-and-at/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [I have nowhere to go. The swift satellites show The clock of my whole being is slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/i-have-nowhere-to-go-the-swift-satellites-show-the-clock-of-my-whole/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [I turn now not to the Bible but to Wallace Stevens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/i-turn-now-not-to-the-bible-but-to-wallace-stevens/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [Imaginative truth is the most immediate way of presenting ultimate reality to a human being... ultimate reality is what we call God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/imaginative-truth-is-the-most-immediate-way-of-presenting-ultimate/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [I am left alone on the surface of a turning planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/i-am-left-alone-on-the-surface-of-a-turning-planet/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [Poetry is that / which arrives at the intellect / by way of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/poetry-is-that-which-arrives-at-the-intellect-by-way-of-the-heart/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [The silence holds with its gloved hand the wild hawk of the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/the-silence-holds-with-its-gloved-hand-the-wild-hawk-of-the-mind/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [Verse should be as natural As the small tuber that feeds on muck And grows slowly from obtuse soil To the white flower of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/verse-should-be-as-natural-as-the-small-tuber-that-feeds-on-muck-and/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) > [Sunlight 's a thing that needs a window Before it enter a dark room. Windows don't happen." So two old poets, Hunched at their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/sunlight-s-a-thing-that-needs-a-window-before-it-enter-a-dark-room/) [R. S. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) [Explore all 36 R. S. Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/) ## More Force quotes > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Above Coblentz almost every mountain has a ruin and a legend. One feels everywhere the spirit of the past, and its stirring recollections come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/above-coblentz-almost-every-mountain-has-a-ruin-and-a-legend-one/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [The one means that wins the easiest victory over reason is terror and force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/the-one-means-that-wins-the-easiest-victory-over-reason-is-terror-and/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [ Neither Italian fascism nor German national "socialism" have anything in common with such a \[Soviet socialistic\] society, primarily because private ownership of factories, plants,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stalin/neither-italian-fascism-nor-german-national-socialism-have-anything/) [Joseph Stalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stalin/) > [Dictatorship is rule based directly upon force and unrestricted by any laws. The revolutionary dictatorship of the proletariat is rule won and maintained by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/dictatorship-is-rule-based-directly-upon-force-and-unrestricted-by/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [The great force for forging a society into a solid mass has always been war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-graham-sumner/the-great-force-for-forging-a-society-into-a-solid-mass-has-always/) [William Graham Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-graham-sumner/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [It is the rule in war, if our forces are ten to the enemy's one, to surround him; if five to one, to attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-the-rule-in-war-if-our-forces-are-ten-to-the-enemy-s-one-to/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola Browse all 10,458 Force quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Now the power of the imagination is a unifying power, hence the force of metaphor; and the poet is the supreme manipulator of metaphor... the world needs the unifying power of the imagination. The two things that give it best are poetry and religion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. S. Thomas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-unifying-power-hence-the-force/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Force" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-unifying-power-hence-the-force/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/r-s-thomas-17783_force_now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-un_275804.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Now the power of the imagination is a unifying power, hence the force of metaphor; and the poet is the…” — R. S. Thomas", "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": "R. S. Thomas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-s-thomas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Now the power of the imagination...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-unifying-power-hence-the-force/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-s-thomas/now-the-power-of-the-imagination-is-a-unifying-power-hence-the-force/#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 } } ] } ```