It was play rather than work which enabled man to evolve his higher faculties - everything we mean by the word 'culture'.
Herbert ReadRead
Simplicity is not a goal, but one arrives at simplicity in spite of oneself, as one approaches the real meaning of things.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Simplicity is an outcome of understanding deep truths, rather than a deliberate pursuit.
This quote by Herbert Read suggests that simplicity is not a target that we should strive for directly; instead, it is a natural result of a deeper comprehension of the essential meaning of things. As we delve more into an understanding of life, art, or any complex subject, we tend to find clarity and simplicity, as the convoluted becomes easier to grasp.
Themes
SimplicityUnderstandingTruthMeaningInsight
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on design principles, one might use this quote to emphasize the value of clarity in complex projects.
More from Herbert Read
All quotes βThat is why I believe that art is so much more significant than either economics or philosophy. It is the direct measure of man's spiritual vision.
Herbert ReadRead
The worth of a civilization or a culture is not valued in the terms of its material wealth or military power, but by the quality and achievements of its representative individuals - its philosophers, its poets and its artists.
Herbert ReadRead
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