--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These, said Conrad, knew the world by…" description: "\"“These, said Conrad, knew the world by systematic examination. To begin with the artist had only himself; he descended within himself and in the lonely..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/saul-bellow-558_artist_these-said-conrad-knew-the-world-by-syst_1702262.jpg" --- # These, said Conrad, knew the world by systematic… ![“These, said Conrad, knew the world by systematic examination. To begin with the artist had only himself; he descended within himself and in the lonely regions to which he descended, he found "the terms of his appeal". He appealed, said Conrad, "to that part of our being which is a gift, not an…” quote by Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/saul-bellow-558_artist_these-said-conrad-knew-the-world-by-syst_1702262.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/saul-bellow-558_artist_these-said-conrad-knew-the-world-by-syst_1702262.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/saul-bellow-558_artist_these-said-conrad-knew-the-world-by-syst_1702262.jpg) > ““These, said Conrad, knew the world by systematic examination. To begin with the artist had only himself; he descended within himself and in the lonely regions to which he descended, he found "the terms of his appeal". He appealed, said Conrad, "to that part of our being which is a gift, not an acquisition, to the capacity for delight and wonder... our sense of pity and pain, to the latent feeling of fellowship with all creation - and to the subtle but invincible conviction of solidarity that knits together the loneliness of innumerable hearts... which binds together all humanity - the dead to the living and the living to the unborn.”” [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding humanity requires deep self‑reflection and empathy, seeing ourselves as part of a larger whole. **In simple terms:** Seeing ourselves as part of all humanity. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑awareness and compassion. Themes empathy humanity solidarity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - leadership - counseling - creative writing - community building Key Concepts existentialism psychology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal identity with collective solidarity? - What practices deepen your sense of wonder? A Different Perspective May overlook personal boundaries in pursuit of unity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [“But the artist appeals to that part of our being which is not dependent on wisdom; to that in us which is a gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/but-the-artist-appeals-to-that-part-of-our-being-which-is-not/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“Conrad is a dream for psychoanalitic critics”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/conrad-is-a-dream-for-psychoanalitic-critics/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [ “The fascination of \[Joseph Conrad’s\] writing lies in a singular blending of reality with romance – he paints a world of strange skies and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galsworthy/the-fascination-of-joseph-conrad-s-writing-lies-in-a-singular/) [John Galsworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galsworthy/) > [“Maybe that was how it was with all first loves. They own a little piece of your heart, always. Conrad at twelve, thirteen, fourteen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/maybe-that-was-how-it-was-with-all-first-loves-they-own-a-little/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“But just because you bury something, that doesn’t mean it stops existing. Those feelings, they’d been there all along. All that time. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/but-just-because-you-bury-something-that-doesn-t-mean-it-stops/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“I love Conrad and I probably always would. I would spend my whole life loving him one way or another. Maybe I would get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-love-conrad-and-i-probably-always-would-i-would-spend-my-whole-life/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Joseph Conrad described life as birth and death separated by struggle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-sevilla/joseph-conrad-described-life-as-birth-and-death-separated-by-struggle/) [Charles M. Sevilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-sevilla/) > [“Conrad had gotten his ambassadorship by being a big bundler and raising a lot of money for the previous president. He reminded Harvath of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/conrad-had-gotten-his-ambassadorship-by-being-a-big-bundler-and/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [“Do you remember infinity?” Slowly, I turned around. “What about it?” Tossing something toward me, he said, “Catch.” I reached out and caught it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/do-you-remember-infinity-slowly-i-turned-around-what-about-it-tossing/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“The young man regained consciousness in the ambulance, but his mother insisted that he give no evidence to the police because, had he done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dalrymple/the-young-man-regained-consciousness-in-the-ambulance-but-his-mother/) [Theodore Dalrymple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dalrymple/) > [ \[W.H.R.\] Rivers is the Rider Haggard of anthropology; I shall be the Conrad. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronislaw-malinowski/w-h-r-rivers-is-the-rider-haggard-of-anthropology-i-shall-be-the/) [Bronislaw Malinowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bronislaw-malinowski/) > [“--In his themes and techniques, Conrad was a liberator:he eloquently questioned what other people took for granted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-watts-p190/in-his-themes-and-techniques-conrad-was-a-liberator-he-eloquently/) Cedric Watts p190 > [“They wanted facts. Facts! They demanded facts from him, as if facts could explain anything!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/they-wanted-facts-facts-they-demanded-facts-from-him-as-if-facts/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [“This mountain of a man was learning that his considerable might- which he'd clearly relied on for everything - was futile with her. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/this-mountain-of-a-man-was-learning-that-his-considerable-might-which/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“He took a step closer. "I don't know if I'll ever get you out of my system, not completely. I have this... feeling. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/he-took-a-step-closer-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-get-you-out-of-my/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) ## More by Saul Bellow > [... a fellow can't predict what he will pick up in the form of influence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-fellow-can-t-predict-what-he-will-pick-up-in-the-form-of-influence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [If I'm out of my mind, it's all right with me, thought Moses Herzog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/if-i-m-out-of-my-mind-it-s-all-right-with-me-thought-moses-herzog/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [I have begun in old age to understand just how oddly we are all put together. We are so proud of our autonomy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-have-begun-in-old-age-to-understand-just-how-oddly-we-are-all-put/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the leaden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/on-broadway-it-was-still-bright-afternoon-and-the-gassy-air-was/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are evils that have the ability to survive identification and go on for ever... money, for instance, or war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-evils-that-have-the-ability-to-survive-identification-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Myself is thus and so, and will continue thus and so. And why fight it? My balance comes from instability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/myself-is-thus-and-so-and-will-continue-thus-and-so-and-why-fight-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“A strange heart. I myself can't account for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/a-strange-heart-i-myself-can-t-account-for-it/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [The late philosopher Morris R. Cohen of CCNY was asked by a student in the metaphysics course, Professor Cohen, how do I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/the-late-philosopher-morris-r-cohen-of-ccny-was-asked-by-a-student-in/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Therefore we didn't talk of genuine things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/therefore-we-didn-t-talk-of-genuine-things/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Is our species crazy? Plenty of evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/is-our-species-crazy-plenty-of-evidence/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“But now the emphasis has shifted to making it. People have surrendered their personal moral objectives to government or schools or psychologists. It’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/but-now-the-emphasis-has-shifted-to-making-it-people-have-surrendered/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There's a kind of emptiness at the center of life ... nothing to form your life on, or by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-s-a-kind-of-emptiness-at-the-center-of-life-nothing-to-form/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“I don't know how it all at once came to me to talk a lot, tell jokes, kick up, and suddenly have views. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-don-t-know-how-it-all-at-once-came-to-me-to-talk-a-lot-tell-jokes/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [There are times when the most practical thing is to lie down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/there-are-times-when-the-most-practical-thing-is-to-lie-down/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“For knowledge of death makes us wish to extend our lives at the expense of others. And this is the root of the struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/for-knowledge-of-death-makes-us-wish-to-extend-our-lives-at-the/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) [Explore all 464 Saul Bellow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) ## More Artist quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [“People in coats and ties were milling around the Talley gallery, and on the wall were the minimally rendered still lifes by Giorgio Morandi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/people-in-coats-and-ties-were-milling-around-the-talley-gallery-and/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Designers shouldn’t design for museums any more than mummies should die for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-caplan/designers-shouldn-t-design-for-museums-any-more-than-mummies-should/) [Ralph Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-caplan/) > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) [Browse all 32,600 Artist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“These, said Conrad, knew the world by systematic examination. To begin with the artist had only himself; he descended within himself and in the lonely regions to which he descended, he found \"the terms of his appeal\". 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