Creativity Quote by Wallace Stevens
““…the imagination gives to everything that it touches a peculiarity, and it seems to me that the peculiarity of the imagination is nobility, of which there are many degrees. This inherent nobility is the natural source of another, which our extremely headstrong generation regards as false and decadent. I mean that nobility which is our spiritual height and depth; and while I know how difficult it is to express it, nevertheless I am bound to give a sense of it. Nothing could be more evasive and inaccessible. Nothing distorts itself and seeks disguise more quickly. There is a shame of disclosing it and in its definite presentations a horror of it. But there it is.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Idea of Order at Key” (1935)
The imagination endows everything it touches with uniqueness, a noble quality that can be both elusive and misunderstood.
In simple terms: Imagination gives unique, noble quality to things.
Key Takeaway
Embrace and express your imaginative nobility.
Themes
creativity
philosophy
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing
- visual arts
- teaching
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
imaginative nobility
artistic expression
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “nobility of imagination” mean to you?
- How can you share it without shame?
A Different Perspective
Imagination’s nobility can be dismissed as pretentious.
