The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thomas CarlyleRead
The meaning of song goes deep. Who in logical words can explain the effect music has on us? A kind of inarticulate, unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the infinite, and lets us for a moment gaze into that!
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the profound and indescribable impact of music on human experience.
Thomas Carlyle's quote emphasizes that the essence of music transcends rational explanation, capturing emotions and experiences that are deeply felt but difficult to articulate. Music acts as a bridge to a deeper understanding, allowing listeners to connect with something beyond themselves, often leading to moments of profound reflection and insight.
In practice
During a speech about the power of art, I included this quote to illustrate music's unique role in expressing emotions.
The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thirty millions, mostly fools.
There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.
For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.
Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil; it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
Clean undeniable right, clear undeniable might: either of these once ascertained puts an end to battle. All battle is a confused experiment to ascertain one and both of these.
I always had an eye toward the stage for the story of Hamilton's life, but I began with the idea of a concept album, the way Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Evita' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' were albums before they were musicals.
Some couture collections have everything including the kitchen sink! Everything gets thrown on to make it look expensive. I find it grotesque when clothes hit you in the face and there's no room for fault. But I don't expect to turn things around all by myself. I'm not a saint.
Every poem is a momentary stay against the confusion of the world.
Writing as writing. Writing as rioting. Writing as righting. _x000D_ On the best days, all three.
The crown of literature is poetry.
Music satisfies and nourishes the hunger within ourselves for connection and harmony.
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