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Creativity Quote by W.B. Yeats

“I had fallen into a profound dream-like reverie in which I heard him speaking as at a distance. 'And yet there is no one who communes with only one god,' he was saying, 'and the more a man lives in imagination and in a refined understanding, the more gods does he meet with and talk with, and the…” quote by W.B. Yeats
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““I had fallen into a profound dream-like reverie in which I heard him speaking as at a distance. 'And yet there is no one who communes with only one god,' he was saying, 'and the more a man lives in imagination and in a refined understanding, the more gods does he meet with and talk with, and the more does he come under the power of Roland, who sounded in the Valley of Roncesvalles the last trumpet of the body's will and pleasure; and of Hamlet, who saw them perishing away, and sighed; and of Faust, who looked for them up and down the world and could not find them; and under the power of all those countless divinities who have taken upon themselves spiritual bodies in the minds of the modern poets and romance writers, and under the power of the old divinities, who since the Renaissance have won everything of their ancient worship except the sacrifice of birds and fishes, the fragrance of garlands and the smoke of incense. The many think humanity made these divinities, and that it can unmake them again; but we who have seen them pass in rattling harness, and in soft robes, and heard them speak with articulate voices while we lay in deathlike trance, know that they are always making and unmaking humanity, which is indeed but the trembling of their lips.””

W.B. Yeats

About This Quote

The passage describes how imagination and deep understanding expose us to many divine influences, shaping humanity through artistic and spiritual forces.

In simple terms: Imagination opens us to many divine influences that shape humanity.

Key Takeaway

Embrace imagination to connect with deeper forces.

Themes

imagination spirituality art human nature divine influence

Mood

reflective enigmatic inquisitive

Type

philosophical literary spiritual

When to use this quote

  • creative writing
  • philosophical reflection
  • artistic inspiration
  • spiritual practice

Key Concepts

myth philosophy poetry transcendence

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does imagination alter your perception of reality?
  • What role do mythic figures play in modern creativity?
A Different Perspective

Interpretations may vary; not all readers see literal divinities.

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