The deepest quality of a work of art will always be the quality of the mind of the producer...No good novel will ever proceed from a superficial mind.
Henry JamesRead
What is character but the determination of incident? What is incident but the illustration of character?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Character and incidents shape and illustrate each other in life.
In this quote, Henry James explores the intricate relationship between character and incidents, suggesting that our character influences the events we experience, while those events also reveal and shape our character. It implies that our responses to circumstances are a reflection of who we are, and conversely, our experiences can further define our essence.
Themes
CharacterIncidentDeterminationIllustrationLife
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth and integrity.
More from Henry James
All quotes →Never say you know the last word about any human heart.
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I adore adverbs; they are the only qualifications I really much respect.
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We care what happens to people only in proportion as we know what people are.
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A swift carriage, of a dark night, rattling with four horses over roads that one can’t see--that’s my idea of happiness.
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Of course what he most intensely dreams of is being taken out on walks, and the more you are able to indulge him the more will he adore you and the more all the latent beauty of his nature will come out.
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