Whether a belief is considered to be a delusion or not depends partly upon the intensity with which it is defended, and partly upon the numbers of people subscribing to it.
Some split between the inner world and outer world is common to all behaviour, and the need to bridge the gap is the source of creative behaviour.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of connecting one's inner thoughts and feelings with the external world to foster creativity.
Anthony Storr's quote highlights a fundamental aspect of human behavior—the divide between our internal experiences and the external realities we face. This disconnect can drive individuals to engage in creative behaviors as a means of expression, allowing them to reconcile their inner world with the outer world. By bridging this gap, people can explore new ideas, emotions, and perspectives, which often leads to artistic and innovative outcomes.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about creativity during an art class, this quote can be used to illustrate how personal experiences influence artistic expression.
More from Anthony Storr
All quotes →Similar quotes
In the music business, we all do different things, but we sit there and admire other people who can write a song differently or sing differently. It's not so competitive.
The poetry you read has been written for you, each of you - black, white, Hispanic, man, woman, gay, straight.
Your writing voice is the deepest possible reflection of who you are. The job of your voice is not to seduce or flatter or make well-shaped sentences. In your voice, your readers should be able to hear the contents of your mind, your heart, your soul.
The faster the word sticks to the thought, the more beautiful is the effect.
American pictures usually have no subject, only a story. A pretty woman is not a subject. Julia Roberts doing this and that is not a subject.
The artists we love, they put their fingerprint on your imagination, and on your heart and your soul.