If all meanings could be adequately expressed by words, the arts of painting and music would not exist.
Interpretation
Words cannot fully capture the depth of human experience, hence the need for art and music.
John Dewey's quote highlights the limitations of language in conveying the full spectrum of human emotions and experiences. He suggests that if words were enough to express all meanings, there would be no necessity for the expressive arts such as painting and music, which serve to communicate feelings and ideas that go beyond verbal communication.
In practice
During an art exhibition, this quote can inspire discussion about the role of creativity.
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The reactionaries are in possession of force, in not only the army and police, but in the press and the schools
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Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason.
A scientist worthy of his name, about all a mathematician, experiences in his work the same impression as an artist; his pleasure is as great and of the same nature.
What's important about an actor is his acting, not his life.
If you're not still learning and growing as an actor, then you have no backbone and no career
You know how some people write every day at a certain point? I'm not like that. I carry something around for a long time. I weigh the words and the sentences. I weigh the paragraphs. The process is much more meditative for me.
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