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.
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I guess I've accepted that theatre is never going to be edgy in the way I want it to be. It's too expensive for a start. And, the audience seems to be complicit in the dullness.
Beauty is the experience that gives us a sense of joy and a sense of peace simultaneously.
When I lock myself up to write, I cannot allow myself to think about the censor or the reviewer or anyone but my characters and their story!
Art made tongue-tied by authority.
I think theatre should always be somewhat suspect.
Gardening is a luxury occupation: an ornament, not a necessity, of life.... Fortunate gardener, who may preoccupy himself solely with beauty in these difficult and ugly days! He is one of the few people left in this distressful world to carry on the tradition of elegance and charm. A useless member of society, considered in terms of economics, he must not be denied his rightful place. He deserves to share it, however humbly, with the painter and poet.