# Quotes about imagination - Quotes: 181 - Authors: 114 - Narrower topics: [creativity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/creativity.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.json ## Quotes > Anything seemed possible, likely, feasible, because I wanted everything to be possible…Because I had no power to make things happen outside of me in the objective world, I made things happen within. Because my environment was bare and bleak, I endowed it with unlimited potentialities, redeemed it for the sake of my own hungry and cloudy yearning. [Richard Wright](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright.md) · [Black Boy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-wright/black-boy/anything-seemed-possible.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > I dispose of Nature in its entirety as its lord and master; my heart, roaming from object to object, mingles and identifies itself with those which soothe it, wraps itself up in charming fancies, and is intoxicated with delicious sensations. If, in order to render them permanent, I amuse myself by describing them by myself, what vigorous outlines, what fresh colouring, what power of expression I give them! All this, it is said, has been found in my works, although written in my declining years. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Confessions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions/i-dispose-of-nature.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > When alone, I have never known what it is to feel weary, even when I am entirely unemployed; my imagination fills up every void, and is alone sufficient to occupy me. It is only the idle gossip of a room, when people sit opposite each other, moving nothing but their tongues, that I have never been able to endure. When walking or moving, I can put up with it; the feet and eyes are at least employed; but, to remain with folded arms, talking about the weather and the flies buzzing round, or, what is worse, exchanging compliments, that is to me unendurable torture. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Confessions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/confessions/when-alone-i-have.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > "The scariest, most terrifying thing that I fear?""Yes.""My Imagination.""I thought you were going to say "Fear, itself.""Then you have a small imagination." [Stephen King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king.md) · [Wizard and Glass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/wizard-and-glass.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-king/wizard-and-glass/the-scariest-most.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > All that was necessary was to use one’s imagination to see how it might have happened, and then check the evidence to see if it did happen that way. The final step is to check the evidence to make sure it could not have happened any other way. [Randall Garrett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randall-garrett.md) · [Lord Darcy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randall-garrett/lord-darcy.md) · p. 167 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/randall-garrett/lord-darcy/all-that-was.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [logic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/logic.md) > Conceive. That is the word that means both the beginning in imagination and the end in creation. [George Bernard Shaw](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw.md) · [Back to Methuselah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah/conceive-that-is-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [creativity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/creativity.md) > Life must not cease. That comes before everything. It is silly to say you do not care. You do care. It is that care that will prompt your imagination; inflame your desires; make your will irresistible; and create out of nothing. [George Bernard Shaw](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw.md) · [Back to Methuselah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah/life-must-not.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire; you will what you imagine; and at last you create what you will. [George Bernard Shaw](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw.md) · [Back to Methuselah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah/imagination-is-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [creativity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/creativity.md) > I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?" [George Bernard Shaw](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw.md) · [Back to Methuselah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/back-to-methuselah/i-hear-you.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams and aspirations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams-and-aspirations.md) > [I]t was just like Sara that, having found her strange good fortune real, she should give herself up to the enjoyment of it to the utmost. She had lived such a life of imaginings that she was quite equal to accepting any wonderful thing that happened, and almost to cease, in a short time, to find it bewildering. [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett.md) · [A Little Princess](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett/a-little-princess.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett/a-little-princess/i-t-was-just.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > She was a child full of imaginings and whimsical thoughts, and one of her fancies was that there would be a great deal of comfort in even pretending that Emily was alive and really heard and understood. [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett.md) · [A Little Princess](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett/a-little-princess.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett/a-little-princess/she-was-a-child.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > She was such a little girl that one did not expect to see such a look on her small face. It would have been an old look for a child of twelve, and Sara Crewe was only seven. The fact was, however, that she was always dreaming and thinking odd things and could not herself remember any time when she had not been thinking things about grown-up people and the world they belonged to. She felt as if she had lived a long, long time. [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett.md) · [A Little Princess](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett/a-little-princess.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frances-hodgson-burnett/a-little-princess/she-was-such.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [childhood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/childhood.md) > She was a little given to rehearsing things in her mind, and having imaginary triumphs over people who had upset her in one way and another. [James M. Cain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-m-cain.md) · [Mildred Pierce](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-m-cain/mildred-pierce.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-m-cain/mildred-pierce/she-was-a-little.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Anybody who lets facts interfere with his imagination is a person who will never enjoy anything else again. [Athol Fugard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/athol-fugard.md) · [MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS](https://www.leafyquotes.com/athol-fugard/master-harold-and-the-boys.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/athol-fugard/master-harold-and-the-boys/anybody-who-lets.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Sometimes I think you have an overly vivid imagination, Hollis. With some things it’s just not worth thinking about them too carefully before they happen. They almost never turn out to be as horrible as you think they will. [Lev Grossman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman.md) · [Warp](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman/warp.md) · p. 140 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lev-grossman/warp/sometimes-i-think.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Even the people were bred without imaginations. The imaginative ones were fixed—or gotten rid of. Too dangerous to have a thinker unless he thought the government’s way. [Jack L. Chalker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker.md) · [Midnight at the Well of Souls](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker/midnight-at-the-well-of-souls.md) · p. 21 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jack-l-chalker/midnight-at-the-well-of-souls/even-the-people.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [tyranny](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/tyranny.md) > Imagination is absolutely critical to the quality of our lives. Our imagination enables us to leave our routine everyday existence by fantasizing about travel, food, sex, falling in love, or having the last word—all the things that make life interesting. Imagination gives us the opportunity to envision new possibilities—it is an essential launchpad for making our hopes come true. It fires our creativity, relieves our boredom, alleviates our pain, enhances our pleasure, and enriches our most intimate relationships. [Bessel van der Kolk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bessel-van-der-kolk.md) · [The Body Keeps the Score](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bessel-van-der-kolk/the-body-keeps-the-score.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/bessel-van-der-kolk/the-body-keeps-the-score/imagination-is-absolutely.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The power of imagination, of image, which is the fundamental power of literature, is the power to determine a people’s fate. [Paula Gunn Allen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paula-gunn-allen.md) · [The Sacred Hoop](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paula-gunn-allen/the-sacred-hoop.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paula-gunn-allen/the-sacred-hoop/the-power-of-imagination.md) Topics: [literature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/literature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination is one of our most powerful tools. What we imagine, we can become. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 184 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/imagination-is-one.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The Sphinx is an unreal creature. It exists solely because it has been imagined. (p. 264) [Terry Pratchett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett.md) · [Pyramids](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/pyramids.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/pyramids/the-sphinx-is-an-unreal.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Anyone with an overactive imagination, in particular a perversely negative one, need never be surprised by anything. The imagination absolutely can catch out imminent disasters as they're warming up, especially if you keep your nostrils open. People who can accurately read the future: are they gifted at seeing or gifted at guessing? [Steve Toltz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz.md) · [A Fraction Of The Whole](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz/a-fraction-of-the-whole.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/steve-toltz/a-fraction-of-the-whole/anyone-with-an-overactive.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [foreseeing the future](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/foreseeing-the-future.md) > In the face of all kinds of derisions of all the many people, I still firmly believe in my mind that that unique village on the Japan Sea of which oral legend has handed down, the town where only cats' spirits live, must surely exist somewhere, in some part of the universe. [Sakutaro Hagiwara](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sakutaro-hagiwara.md) · [Cat Town](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sakutaro-hagiwara/cat-town.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sakutaro-hagiwara/cat-town/in-the-face.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > It is, after all, our imagination that makes us human. Vincent van Gogh asked, “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” To which the answer is, I would have thought, boring, bordering on pointless. [Will Gompertz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/will-gompertz.md) · [Think Like an Artist](https://www.leafyquotes.com/will-gompertz/think-like-an-artist.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/will-gompertz/think-like-an-artist/it-is-after.md) Topics: [courage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/courage.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > A fact will often show poor and plain in contrast to the leapings of imagination. [Marion L. Starkey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marion-l-starkey.md) · [The Devil in Massachusetts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marion-l-starkey/the-devil-in-massachusetts.md) · p. 205 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marion-l-starkey/the-devil-in-massachusetts/a-fact-will.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Lack of imagination also indicates lack of commitment for figuring it out. [Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/roxanne-dunbar-ortiz.md) · [Not "A Nation of Immigrants"](https://www.leafyquotes.com/roxanne-dunbar-ortiz/not-a-nation-of-immigrants.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/roxanne-dunbar-ortiz/not-a-nation-of-immigrants/lack-of-imagination.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Everything, she noticed, seemed capable of transmogrification. Even the two boulders in the backyard sometimes turned to silver in the early morning sunlight. In the books she read, every stream might be a river god, every tree a dryad in disguise, every old woman a powerful fairy, every pebble an enchanted soul. Anything had the potential to transform, and this, to her, seemed the true meaning of art. (chapter 13 p188) [Celeste Ng](https://www.leafyquotes.com/celeste-ng.md) · [Little Fires Everywhere](https://www.leafyquotes.com/celeste-ng/little-fires-everywhere.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/celeste-ng/little-fires-everywhere/everything-she-noticed.md) Topics: [change](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/change.md), [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The limits we assign to Nature sometimes define our own lack of imagination. [Charles Sheffield](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield.md) · [Starfire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/starfire.md) · p. 388 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-sheffield/starfire/the-limits-we-assign.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > It's all a question of imagination. Our responsibility begins with the power to imagine. It's just as Yeats said: In dreams begin responsibility. Turn this on its head and you could say that where there's no power to imagine, no responsibility can arise. [Haruki Murakami](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami.md) · [Kafka on the Shore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/kafka-on-the-shore.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/kafka-on-the-shore/its-all-a-question.md) Topics: [responsibility](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/responsibility.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams and aspirations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams-and-aspirations.md) > Narrow minds devoid of imagination. Intolerance, theories cut off from reality, empty terminology, usurped ideals, inflexible systems. Those are the things that really frighten me. What I absolutely fear and loathe. [Haruki Murakami](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami.md) · [Kafka on the Shore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/kafka-on-the-shore.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/kafka-on-the-shore/narrow-minds-devoid.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [prejudice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/prejudice.md) > I've experienced all kinds of discrimination," Oshima says. "Only people who've been discriminated against can really know how much it hurts. Each person feels the pain in his own way, each has his own scars. So I think I'm as concerned about fairness and justice as anybody. But what disgusts me even more are people who have no imagination. The kind T. S. Eliot calls hollow men. People who fill up that lack of imagination with heartless bits of straw, not even aware of what they're doing. Callous people who throw a lot of empty words at you, trying to force you to do what you don't want to. Like that lovely pair we just met." He sighs and twirls the long slender pencil in his hand. "Gays, lesbians, straights, feminists, fascist pigs, communists, Hare Krishnas-none of them bother me. I don't care what banner they raise. But what I can't stand are hollow people. When I'm with them I just can't bear it, and wind up saying things I shouldn't. With those women I should've just let it slide, or else called Miss Saeki and let her handle it. She would have given them a smile and smoothed things over. But I just can't do that. I say things I shouldn't, do things I shouldn't do. I can't control myself. That's one of my weak points. [Haruki Murakami](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami.md) · [Kafka on the Shore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/kafka-on-the-shore.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/kafka-on-the-shore/ive-experienced-all.md) Topics: [justice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/justice.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The revolution that counts is the one that takes place in the imagination; many kinds of change issue forth thereafter, some gradual and subtle, some dramatic and conflict-ridden—which is to say that revolution doesn't necessarily look like revolution. [Rebecca Solnit](https://www.leafyquotes.com/rebecca-solnit.md) · [Hope In The Dark](https://www.leafyquotes.com/rebecca-solnit/hope-in-the-dark.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/rebecca-solnit/hope-in-the-dark/the-revolution-that.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [revolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/revolution.md) > We tell people to follow their dreams, but you can only dream of what you can imagine, and, depending on where you come from, your imagination can be quite limited. [Trevor Noah](https://www.leafyquotes.com/trevor-noah.md) · [Born a Crime](https://www.leafyquotes.com/trevor-noah/born-a-crime.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/trevor-noah/born-a-crime/we-tell-people.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams and aspirations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams-and-aspirations.md) > Fantasy is one of the soul's brighter porcelains. [Pat Conroy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy.md) · [Beach Music](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/beach-music.md) · p. 417 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/pat-conroy/beach-music/fantasy-is-one.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [soul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soul.md) > Don't grudge Anne Cordelia her fancies, Diana. I'm always sorry for children who don't spend a few years in fairyland. [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucy-maud-montgomery.md) · [Anne of Ingleside](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucy-maud-montgomery/anne-of-ingleside.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucy-maud-montgomery/anne-of-ingleside/dont-grudge-anne.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [childhood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/childhood.md) > Fancies are like shadows . . . you can't cage them, they're such wayward, dancing things. [Lucy Maud Montgomery](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucy-maud-montgomery.md) · [Anne of Avonlea](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucy-maud-montgomery/anne-of-avonlea.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucy-maud-montgomery/anne-of-avonlea/fancies-are-like.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. Mathematicians go mad, and cashiers; but creative artists very seldom. I am not, as will be seen, in any sense attacking logic: I only say that this danger does lie in logic, not in imagination. [G. Chesterton](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton.md) · [Orthodoxy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/g-chesterton/orthodoxy/imagination-does-not.md) Topics: [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [madness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/madness.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > A human being always acts and feels and performs in accordance with what he imagines to be true about himself and his environment. [Maxwell Maltz](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxwell-maltz.md) · [Psycho-Cybernetics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxwell-maltz/psycho-cybernetics.md) · p. 31 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/maxwell-maltz/psycho-cybernetics/a-human-being.md) Topics: [identity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/identity.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The imagination enlarges little objects so as to fill our souls with a fantastic estimate; and, with rash insolence, it belittles the great to its own measure, as when talking of God. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/the-imagination-enlarges.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Things which have most hold on us, as the concealment of our few possessions, are often a mere nothing. It is a nothing which our imagination magnifies into a mountain. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/things-which-have.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Put the world's greatest philosopher on a plank that is wider than need be; if there is a precipice below, although his reason may convince him that he is safe, his imagination will prevail. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/put-the-worlds.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination.—This arrogant power, the enemy of reason, who likes to rule and dominate it, has established in man a second nature to show how all-powerful she is. She makes men happy and sad, healthy and sick, rich and poor; she compels reason to believe, doubt, and deny; she blunts the senses, or quickens them; she has her fools and sages; and nothing vexes us more than to see that she fills her devotees with a satisfaction far more full and entire than does reason. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/imagination-this-arrogant-power.md) Topics: [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination.—It is that deceitful part in man, that mistress of error and falsity, the more deceptive, that she is not always so; for she would be an infallible rule of truth, if she were an infallible rule of falsehood. But being most generally false, she gives no sign of her nature, impressing the same character on the true and the false. I do not speak of fools, I speak of the wisest men; and it is among them that the imagination has the great gift of persuasion. Reason protests in vain; it cannot set a true value on things. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/imagination-it-is-that.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination cannot make fools wise, but it makes them happy, as against reason, which only makes its friends wretched: one covers them with glory, the other with shame. [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/imagination-cannot-make.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Those who have a lively imagination are a great deal more pleased with themselves than the wise can reasonably be. They look down upon men with haughtiness; they argue with boldness and confidence, others with fear and diffidence; and this gaiety of countenance often gives them the advantage in the opinion of the hearers, such favor have the imaginary wise in the eyes of judges of like nature. Imagination cannot make fools wise; but she can make them happy, to the envy of reason which can only make its friends miserable; the one covers them with glory, the other with shame. What but this faculty of imagination dispenses reputation, awards respect and veneration to persons, works, laws, and the great? How insufficient are all the riches of the earth without her consent! [Blaise Pascal](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal.md) · [Pensees](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/blaise-pascal/pensees/those-who-have.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > This is an exercise in fictional science, or science fiction, if you like that better. Not for amusement: science fiction in the service of science. Or just science, if you agree that fiction is a part of it, always was, and always will be as long as our brains are only miniscule fragments of the universe, much too small to hold all the facts of the world but not too idle to speculate about them. [Valentino Braitenberg](https://www.leafyquotes.com/valentino-braitenberg.md) · [Vehicles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/valentino-braitenberg/vehicles.md) · p. 1 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/valentino-braitenberg/vehicles/this-is-an-exercise.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Perception requires imagination because the data people encounter in their lives are never complete and always equivocal. [Leonard Mlodinow](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leonard-mlodinow.md) · [The Drunkard's Walk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leonard-mlodinow/the-drunkards-walk.md) · p. 170 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/leonard-mlodinow/the-drunkards-walk/perception-requires-imagination.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Are there any mythical beasts which aren't simple pastiches of nature? Centaurs, minotaurs, unicorns, griffons, chimeras, sphinxes, manticores, and the like don't speak well for the human imagination. None is as novel as a kangaroo or starfish. [William Poundstone](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-poundstone.md) · [Labyrinths of Reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-poundstone/labyrinths-of-reason.md) · p. 11 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-poundstone/labyrinths-of-reason/are-there-any.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Human beings are the only animals who have the capacity to envisage something that is not present or something that does not yet exist but which is merely possible. The imagination has thus been the cause of our major achievements in science and technology as well as in art and religion. [Karen Armstrong](https://www.leafyquotes.com/karen-armstrong.md) · [A History of God](https://www.leafyquotes.com/karen-armstrong/a-history-of-god.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/karen-armstrong/a-history-of-god/human-beings-are.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable. [Mary Oliver](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-oliver.md) · [Evidence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-oliver/evidence.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-oliver/evidence/keep-some-room.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > If there is a sense of reality, there must also be a sense of possibility. To pass freely through open doors, it is necessary to respect the fact that they have solid frames. This principle, by which the old professor had lived, is simply a requisite of the sense of reality. But if there is a sense of reality, and no one will doubt that it has its justifications for existing, then there must also be something we can call a sense of possibility. Whoever has it does not say, for instance: Here this or that has happened, will happen, must happen; but he invents: Here this or that might, could, or ought to happen. If he is told that something is the way it is, he will think: Well, it could probably just as well be otherwise. So the sense of possibility could be defined outright as the ability to conceive of everything there might be just as well, and to attach no more importance to what is than to what is not. [Robert Musil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-musil.md) · [The Man Without Qualities](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-musil/the-man-without-qualities.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-musil/the-man-without-qualities/if-there-is-a-sense.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md) > … imaginary things were often the only items of real substance in people's lives. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [Warbreaker](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/warbreaker.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/warbreaker/imaginary-things-were.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Fear is a distorting mirror in which anything can appear as a caricature of itself, stretched to terrible proportions; once inflamed, the imagination pursues the craziest and most unlikely possibilities. What is most absurd suddenly seems the most probable. [Stefan Zweig](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stefan-zweig.md) · [The Post-Office Girl](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stefan-zweig/the-post-office-girl.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stefan-zweig/the-post-office-girl/fear-is-a-distorting.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Most people have very little imagination. They are hardly moved by anything which does not directly touch them, which does not positively hammer its message upon their senses; but even a trifle, should it happen under their very eyes, and within the immediate range of their feelings, will instantly kindle in them a disproportionate amount of passion. We may say that the rarity of their interest is compensated by an inappropriate and exaggerated vehemence when their interest is at last aroused. [Stefan Zweig](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stefan-zweig.md) · [Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stefan-zweig/twenty-four-hours-in-the-life-of-a-woman.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stefan-zweig/twenty-four-hours-in-the-life-of-a-woman/most-people-have.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [passion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/passion.md), [indifference](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/indifference.md) > “Why paired?” Viktor asked. “Have two sexes?” > > “Hard to imagine how electromagnetic creatures could,” Mary Kay said. > > Viktor grinned. “Lack of imagination is not an argument. Especially lately.” [Gregory Benford](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford.md) · [The Sunborn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/the-sunborn.md) · p. 290 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gregory-benford/the-sunborn/why-paired-viktor.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > To see is one thing; to picture or visualise is another. A person can see things, only when his eyes are open, and when his surroundings are illuminated; but he can have pictures in his mind’s eye, when his eyes are shut and when the world is dark. [Gilbert Ryle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gilbert-ryle.md) · [The Concept of Mind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gilbert-ryle/the-concept-of-mind.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/gilbert-ryle/the-concept-of-mind/to-see-is-one.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Suddenly, it seemed to me that the entire world was like a palace with countless rooms whose doors opened into one another. We were able to pass from one room to the next only by exercising our memories and imaginations, but most of us, in our laziness, rarely exercised these capacities, and forever remained in the same room. [Orhan Pamuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk.md) · [My Name Is Red](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk/my-name-is-red.md) · p. 407 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orhan-pamuk/my-name-is-red/suddenly-it-seemed.md) Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [laziness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/laziness.md) > Don't be amazed if you see my eyes always wandering. In fact, this is my way of reading, and it is only in this way that reading proves fruitful to me. If a book truly interests me, I cannot follow it for more than a few lines before my mind, having seized on a thought that the text suggests to it, or a feeling, or a question, or an image, goes off on a tangent and springs from thought to thought, from image to image, in an itinerary of reasonings and fantasies that I feel the need to pursue to the end, moving away from the book until I have lost sight of it. The stimulus of reading is indispensable to me, and of meaty reading, even if, of every book, I manage to read no more than a few pages. But those few pages already enclose for me whole universes, which I can never exhaust. [Italo Calvino](https://www.leafyquotes.com/italo-calvino.md) · [If on a Winter's Night a Traveler](https://www.leafyquotes.com/italo-calvino/if-on-a-winters-night-a-traveler.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/italo-calvino/if-on-a-winters-night-a-traveler/dont-be-amazed.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > There is no connection between the political ideas of our educated class and the deep places of the imagination. [Lionel Trilling](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lionel-trilling.md) · [The Liberal Imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lionel-trilling/the-liberal-imagination.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lionel-trilling/the-liberal-imagination/there-is-no-connection.md) Topics: [politics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/politics.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The poet is in command of his fantasy, while it is exactly the mark of the neurotic that he is possessed by his fantasy. [Lionel Trilling](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lionel-trilling.md) · [The Liberal Imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lionel-trilling/the-liberal-imagination.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lionel-trilling/the-liberal-imagination/the-poet-is-in-command.md) Topics: [madness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/madness.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [poetry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/poetry.md) > I don't suppose that hard work, discipline, and a perfectionist attitude toward my work did me any harm. They are a big part of my makeup today, as any of my co-workers will tell you. And when life seemed unbearable, I learned to live in my imagination, and to step inside other people's skins- indispensable abilities for an actress. [Lucille Ball](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball.md) · [Love, Lucy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball/love-lucy.md) · p. 9 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/lucille-ball/love-lucy/i-dont-suppose.md) Topics: [work](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/work.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Each holiday tradition acts as an exercise in cognitive development, a greater challenge for the child. Despite the fact that most parents don't recognize this function, they still practice the exercise. Rant also saw how resolving the illusions is crucial to how the child uses any new skills. A child who is never coached with Santa Claus may never develop an ability to imagine. To him, nothing exists except the literal and tangible. A child who is disillusioned abruptly, by his peers or his siblings, being ridiculed for his faith and imagination, may choose never to believe in anything--tangible or intangible--again. To never trust or wonder. But a child who relinquishes the illusions of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, that child may come away with the most important skill set. That child may recognize the strength of his own imagination and faith. He will embrace the ability to create his own reality. That child becomes his own authority. He determines the nature of his world. His own vision. And by doing so, by the power of his example, he determines the reality of the other two types: those who can't imagine, and those who can't trust." [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Rant](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/rant.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/rant/each-holiday-tradition.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [childhood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/childhood.md) > Man's hope can paint a purple picture, can transform a soaring vulture into a noble eagle or a moaning dove. [Ralph Ellison](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison.md) · [Invisible Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man/mans-hope-can.md) Topics: [hope](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hope.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > “’Tis very strange!” he murmured, staring at the sun, trees, houses and traffic in turn. “It would take a rhapsody of wild and whirling words to do justice of all that I witness!” > > “You’re going to have to speak English out here.” > > “All this,” explained Hamlet, waving his hands at the fairly innocuous Swindon street, “would take millions of words to describe correctly!” > > “You’re right. It would. That’s the magic of the book imagino-transference technology,” I told him. “A few dozen words conjure up an entire picture. But in all honesty the reader does most of the work.” > > “The reader? What’s it got to do with him?” > > “Well, each interpretation of an event, setting or character is unique to each of those who read it because they clothe the author’s description with the memory of their own experiences. Every character they read is actually a complex amalgam of people that they’ve met, read or seen before—far more real than it can ever be just from the text on the page. Because every reader’s experiences are different, each book is unique for each reader.” [Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [Something Rotten](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/something-rotten.md) · p. 21 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/something-rotten/tis-very-strange.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Books may look like nothing more than words on a page, but they are actually an infinitely complex imaginotransference technology that translates odd, inky squiggles into pictures inside your head. [Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [The Well of Lost Plots](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-well-of-lost-plots.md) · p. 48 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-well-of-lost-plots/books-may-look.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > “Write is only the word we use to describe the recording process,” replied Snell as we walked along. “The Well of Lost Plots is where we interface the writer’s imagination with the characters and plots so that it will make sense in the reader’s mind. After all, reading is arguably a far more creative and imaginative process than writing; when the reader creates emotion in their head, or the colors of the sky during the setting sun, or the smell of a warm summer’s breeze on their face, they should reserve as much praise for themselves as they do for the writer—perhaps more.” [Jasper Fforde](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde.md) · [The Well of Lost Plots](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-well-of-lost-plots.md) · p. 48 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jasper-fforde/the-well-of-lost-plots/write-is-only.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Mystery and disappointment are not absolutely indispensable to the growth of love, but they are very often its powerful auxiliaries. "Out of sight, out of mind," is well enough as a proverb applicable to cases of friendship, though absence is not always necessary to hollowness of heart even between friends, and truth and honesty, like precious stones, are perhaps most easily imitated at a distance, when the counterfeits often pass for real. Love, however, is very materially assisted by a warm and active imagination, which has a long memory, and will thrive for a considerable time on very slight and sparing food. [Charles Dickens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens.md) · [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/charles-dickens/nicholas-nickleby/mystery-and-disappointment.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [friendship](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/friendship.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Being a practiced liar doesn't mean you have a powerful imagination. Many good liars have no imagination at all; it's that which gives their lies such wide-eyed conviction. [Philip Pullman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-pullman.md) · [Northern Lights: His Dark Materials 1](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-pullman/northern-lights-his-dark-materials-1.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-pullman/northern-lights-his-dark-materials-1/being-a-practiced.md) Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination was the great cozener of the past. [Philip José Farmer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-jose-farmer.md) · [The Dark Design](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-jose-farmer/the-dark-design.md) · p. 430 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-jose-farmer/the-dark-design/imagination-was-the.md) Topics: [the past](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-past.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Children find everything in nothing, men find nothing in everything. [Giacomo Leopardi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/giacomo-leopardi.md) · [Zibaldone: The Notebooks of Leopardi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/giacomo-leopardi/zibaldone-the-notebooks-of-leopardi.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/giacomo-leopardi/zibaldone-the-notebooks-of-leopardi/children-find-everything.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [childhood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/childhood.md) > For years she had had this magic circle they could weave about themselves, luminous with Gadi's imagination, the place where she could never be lonely or bored. In that private world of play more intense, far more real than reality, she was whatever she longed for. (five: FIFTEEN YEARS BEFORE: THE DAY OF ALEF) [Marge Piercy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marge-piercy.md) · [He, She and It](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marge-piercy/he-she-and-it.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marge-piercy/he-she-and-it/for-years-she.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [play](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/play.md) > I confess I have often fancied myself transformed into some other person, and have felt a certian pleasure in seeing myself in my new chracter. One of our first amusements as children (if we have any imagination at all) is to get out of our own characters, and to try the characters of other personages as a change—to be fairies, to be queens, to be anything, in short, but what we really are. [Wilkie Collins](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wilkie-collins.md) · [The Law and the Lady](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wilkie-collins/the-law-and-the-lady.md) · p. 195 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wilkie-collins/the-law-and-the-lady/i-confess-i-have.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [childhood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/childhood.md) > All fantasy should have a solid base in reality. [Max Beerbohm](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm.md) · [Zuleika Dobson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm/zuleika-dobson.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/max-beerbohm/zuleika-dobson/all-fantasy-should.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md) > If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams. [Yann Martel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yann-martel.md) · [Life Of Pi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yann-martel/life-of-pi.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yann-martel/life-of-pi/if-we-citizens.md) Topics: [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > I know what you want. You want a story that won't surprise you. That will confirm what you already know. That won't make you see higher or further or differently. You want a flat story. An immobile story. You want dry, yeastless factuality. [Yann Martel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yann-martel.md) · [Life Of Pi](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yann-martel/life-of-pi.md) · p. 336 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/yann-martel/life-of-pi/i-know-what.md) Topics: [literature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/literature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > He knew what he imagined and what was real were not one and the same. Knowing it and coming to terms with it were not one and the same, either. [Harry Turtledove](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove.md) · [How Few Remain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/how-few-remain.md) · p. 292 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/harry-turtledove/how-few-remain/he-knew-what.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md) > In primitive society the rules of ceremonial purity observed by divine kings, chiefs, and priests agree in many respects with the rules observed by homicides, mourners, women in childbed, girls at puberty, hunters and fishermen, and so on. To us these various classes of persons appear to differ totally in character and condition; some of them we should call holy, others we might pronounce unclean and polluted. But the savage makes no such moral distinction between them; the conceptions of holiness and pollution are not yet differentiated in his mind. To him the common feature of all these persons is that they are dangerous and in danger, and the danger in which they stand and to which they expose others is what we should call spiritual or ghostly, and therefore imaginary. The danger, however, is not less real because it is imaginary; imagination acts upon man as really does gravitation, and may kill him as certainly as a dose of prussic acid. [James George Frazer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-george-frazer.md) · [The Golden Bough](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-george-frazer/the-golden-bough.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/james-george-frazer/the-golden-bough/in-primitive-society-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [superstitions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/superstitions.md), [holiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/holiness.md) > She had grown through loss and confusion into a girl who lived almost entirely inside her head, taking refuge in the places she created there, not so much repulsed by others’ reality as unable to perceive it. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [The Visitor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor.md) · p. 57 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/the-visitor/she-had-grown.md) Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [loss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loss.md) > The view panel was there, of course. It didn’t have to depict trees and moonlight. She could ask for virtually anything ever written to be printed or dramatized, and she’d tried that a few times, but the panel remained obdurately there, between her and whatever story it was trying to convey. A book would be better. With books, she wasn’t conscious of anything except living the narrative. > > Sometimes she thought she only dreamed about dancing while her real life was lived in books. She could get lost in a book, in being someone else, in feeling amplified, complicated, her simple self fancied up with new sensations, new ideas and perceptions. In books she had family, community, a place in history; she had travels and explorations, struggle and achievement. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Six Moon Dance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance.md) · p. 164 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance/the-view-panel.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Conflict acting on intelligence creates imagination. Faced with conflict, creatures are forced to imagine what will happen, where the next threat will come from. If there has never been conflict, imagination never develops. Wits arise in answer to danger, to pain, to tragedy. No one ever got smarter eating easy apples. [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Six Moon Dance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance.md) · p. 438 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/six-moon-dance/conflict-acting-on-intelligence.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [intelligence](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/intelligence.md) > the great, irreplaceable potentiality of fiction is that it makes possible the imagining of possibilities. [Amitav Ghosh](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amitav-ghosh.md) · [The Great Derangement: From bestselling author and winner of the 2018 Jnanpith Award](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amitav-ghosh/the-great-derangement-from-bestselling-author-and-winner-of-the-2018-jnanpith-award.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amitav-ghosh/the-great-derangement-from-bestselling-author-and-winner-of-the-2018-jnanpith-award/the-great-irreplaceable.md) Topics: [literature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/literature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > to imagine other forms of human existence is exactly the challenge that is posed by the climate crisis: for if there is one thing that global warming has made perfectly clear it is that to think about the world only as it is amounts to a formula for collective suicide. We need, rather, to envision what it might be. [Amitav Ghosh](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amitav-ghosh.md) · [The Great Derangement: From bestselling author and winner of the 2018 Jnanpith Award](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amitav-ghosh/the-great-derangement-from-bestselling-author-and-winner-of-the-2018-jnanpith-award.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/amitav-ghosh/the-great-derangement-from-bestselling-author-and-winner-of-the-2018-jnanpith-award/to-imagine-other.md) Topics: [ecology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ecology.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The last word is not said, — probably shall never be said. Are not our lives too short for that full utterance which through all our stammerings is of course our only and abiding intention? I have given up expecting those last words, whose ring, if they could only be pronounced, would shake both heaven and earth. There is never time to say our last word — the last word of our love, of our desire, faith, remorse, submissions, revolt. The heaven and the earth must not be shaken, I suppose — at least, not by us who know so many truths about either. My last words about Jim shall be few. I affirm he had achieved greatness; but the thing would be dwarfed in the telling, or rather in the hearing. Frankly, it is not my words that I mistrust but your minds. I could be eloquent were I not afraid you fellows had starved your imaginations to feed your bodies. I do not mean to be offensive; it is respectable to have no illusions — and safe — and profitable — and dull. Yet you, too, in your time must have known the intensity of life, that light of glamour created in the shock of trifles, as amazing as the glow of sparks struck from a cold stone — and as short-lived, alas! [Joseph Conrad](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-conrad.md) · [Lord Jim](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-conrad/lord-jim.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-conrad/lord-jim/the-last-word.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [words](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/words.md) > Well, organic imagination doesn’t have to make sense, I recalled. Nor must paranoia be reasonable. It’s a beast that barks at nothing…till the day it’s right. [David Brin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin.md) · [Kil’n People](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/kiln-people.md) · p. 169 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-brin/kiln-people/well-organic-imagination.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > "What is it that separates human beings from the so called lower animals? Well as I see it, it's exactly one half dozen significant things: Humor, Imagination, Eroticism — as opposed to the mindless, instinctive mating of glow-worms or raccoons — Spirituality, Rebelliousness, and Aesthetics, an appreciation of beauty for its own sake. Now, since those are the features that define a human being, it follows that the extent to which someone is lacking in those qualities is the extent to which he or she is less than human. Capisce?" [Tom Robbins](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins.md) · [Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins/fierce-invalids-home-from-hot-climates.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins/fierce-invalids-home-from-hot-climates/what-is-it-that.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [human nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/human-nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > ...she recreated the mountains not as she had originally seen them but as she eventually chose to perceive them, not only a capacity to observe the world but a capacity to alter his or her observation of it — which, in the end, is the capacity to alter the world, itself. Those people who recognise that imagination is reality's master, we call "sages," and those who act upon it, we call "artists." [Tom Robbins](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins.md) · [Skinny Legs and All](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins/skinny-legs-and-all.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/tom-robbins/skinny-legs-and-all/she-recreated-the.md) Topics: [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > There is no imagination in fetishlike sexual conformity; and no ques­tions are being asked in political discourse on sex about hope and sorrow, intimacy and anguish, communion and loss. Imagination is both aggressive and delicate, a mode of cogni­tion unmatched in its ability to reveal the hidden meanings in reality now and the likely shape of tomorrow. Imagination is not a synonym for sexual fantasy, which is only—patheti­cally—a programmed tape loop repeating repeating in the narcoleptic mind. Imagination finds new meanings, new forms; complex and empathetic values and acts. The person with imagination is pushed forward by it into a world of possi­bility and risk, a distinct world of meaning and choice; not into a nearly bare junkyard of symbols manipulated to evoke rote responses. The paring down of the vocabulary of human affect to fuck-related expletives suggests that one destroys the com­plexity of human response by destroying the language that communicates its existence. [Andrea Dworkin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/andrea-dworkin.md) · [Intercourse](https://www.leafyquotes.com/andrea-dworkin/intercourse.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/andrea-dworkin/intercourse/there-is-no-imagination.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > It was octarine, the colour of magic. It was alive and glowing and vibrant and it was the undisputed pigment of the imagination, because wherever it appeared it was a sign that mere matter was a servant of the powers of the magical mind. It was enchantment itself. [Terry Pratchett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett.md) · [The Colour of Magic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/the-colour-of-magic.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/the-colour-of-magic/it-was-octarine.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [magic](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/magic.md) > “Historians, you think,” said Miss Tilney, “are not happy in their flights of fancy. They display imagination without raising interest.”, p. 226, 2013 [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Northanger Abbey](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/northanger-abbey/historians-you-think.md) Topics: [history](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/history.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Strange are the pictures of the future that mankind can thus draw with this brush of faith and this many-coloured pigment of imagination! Strange, too, that no one of them doth agree with another! [Henry Rider Haggard](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-rider-haggard.md) · [She](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-rider-haggard/she.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-rider-haggard/she/strange-are-the.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [the future](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-future.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Ah, Mardina. Evidently you entirely lack imagination. You’ll go far in the Navy. [Stephen Baxter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-baxter.md) · [Ultima](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-baxter/ultima.md) · p. 167 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/stephen-baxter/ultima/ah-mardina-evidently.md) Topics: [irony](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/irony.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > "And the more she could imagine this island, the less she liked the real world. The more she could imagine the people, the less she liked any real people. [...] It got until she didn’t belong anywhere. It got so nobody was good enough, refined enough, real enough. [...] Nothing was as real as her imagined world." [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Diary](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/diary.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/diary/and-the-more.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md) > Most of western culture is a distortion of reality. But reality should be distorted; that is, imaginatively amended. The Buddhist acquiescence to nature is neither accurate about nature nor just to human potential. [Camille Paglia](https://www.leafyquotes.com/camille-paglia.md) · [Sexual Personae](https://www.leafyquotes.com/camille-paglia/sexual-personae.md) · p. 13 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/camille-paglia/sexual-personae/most-of-western.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [culture](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/culture.md) > In dreams you are so 'dumb' that you believe there is a commerce between the living and the dead. You are so 'irrational' as to imagine that you sometimes speak to parents who are dead. You are so 'unrealistic' that it seems to you that you visit old houses, long ago torn down, or that you travel in exotic foreign cities that you have actually never visited. In dreams you are so 'insane' you do not feel yourself locked in a closet of time and space, but feel instead as if all infinity but waited your beckoning. [Jane Roberts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-roberts.md) · [The Nature of the Psyche](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-roberts/the-nature-of-the-psyche.md) · p. 25 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-roberts/the-nature-of-the-psyche/in-dreams-you.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [sleep](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sleep.md) > The imagination is one of the forces of nature. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [Opus Posthumous](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/opus-posthumous.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/opus-posthumous/the-imagination-is-one.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > In the world of words, the imagination is one of the forces of nature. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [Opus Posthumous](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/opus-posthumous.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/opus-posthumous/in-the-world.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The world about us would be desolate except for the world within us. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-world-about.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > What the poet has in mind ... is that poetic value is an intrinsic value. It is not the value of knowledge. It is not the value of faith. It is the value of imagination. The poet tries to exemplify it, in part as I have tried to exemplify it here, by identifying it with an imaginative activity that diffuses itself throughout our lives. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/what-the-poet.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [poetry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/poetry.md) > The truth seems to be that we live in concepts of the imagination before the reason has established them. If this is true, then reason is simply the methodizer of the imagination. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-truth-seems.md) Topics: [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The imagination is the power that enables us to perceive the normal in the abnormal, the opposite of chaos in chaos. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-imagination-is-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [chaos](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/chaos.md) > The paramount relation between poetry and painting today, between modern man and modern art, is simply this: that in an age in which disbelief is so profoundly prevalent or, if not disbelief, indifference to questions of belief, poetry and painting, and the arts in general, are, in their measure, a compensation for what has been lost. Men feel that the imagination is the next greatest power to faith: the reigning prince. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-paramount-relation.md) Topics: [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The best definition of true imagination is that it is the sum of our faculties. Poetry is the scholar's art. The acute intelligence of the imagination, the illimitable resources of its memory, its power to possess the moment it perceives — if we were speaking of light itself, and thinking of the relationship between objects and light, no further demonstration would be necessary ... What light requires a day to do, and by day I mean a kind of Biblical revolution of time, the imagination does in the twinkling of an eye. It colors, increases, brings to a beginning and end, invents languages, crushes men, and, for that matter, gods in its hands, it says to women more than it is possible to say, it rescues all of us from what we have called absolute fact. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-best-definition.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [poetry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/poetry.md) > The operation of the imagination in life is more significant than its operation in or in relation to works of art... in life what is important is the truth as it is, while in arts and letters what is important is truth as we see it. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-operation-of-the.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > For the poet, the imagination is paramount, and ... he dwells apart in his imagination, as the philosopher dwells in his reason, and as the priest dwells in his belief … The imagination is the power of the mind over the possibilities of things." [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/for-the-poet.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [poetry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/poetry.md) > The imagination loses vitality as it ceases to adhere to what is real. When it adheres to the unreal and intensifies what is unreal, while its first effect may be extraordinary, that effect is the maximum effect that it will ever have. [Wallace Stevens](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens.md) · [The Necessary Angel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wallace-stevens/the-necessary-angel/the-imagination-loses.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md) > If a man, sitting all alone, cannot dream strange things, and make them look like truth, he need never try to write romances. [Nathaniel Hawthorne](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nathaniel-hawthorne.md) · [The Scarlet Letter](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-scarlet-letter.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nathaniel-hawthorne/the-scarlet-letter/if-a-man.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > "Much of what we see in the universe," said Hugo, "starts out as imaginary. Often you must imagine something before you can come to terms with it." [Clifford D. Simak](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clifford-d-simak.md) · [Highway of Eternity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clifford-d-simak/highway-of-eternity.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/clifford-d-simak/highway-of-eternity/much-of-what.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The human mind is inspired enough when it comes to inventing horrors; it is when it tries to invent a Heaven that it shows itself cloddish. [Evelyn Waugh](https://www.leafyquotes.com/evelyn-waugh.md) · [Put Out More Flags](https://www.leafyquotes.com/evelyn-waugh/put-out-more-flags.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/evelyn-waugh/put-out-more-flags/the-human-mind.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [paradise](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/paradise.md) > Pretending was like that. Things seemed to make themselves up, once you got going. [Diana Wynne Jones](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diana-wynne-jones.md) · [Fire and Hemlock](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diana-wynne-jones/fire-and-hemlock.md) · p. 29 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diana-wynne-jones/fire-and-hemlock/pretending-was-like.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > It is not that love sometimes makes mistakes, but that it is, essentially, a mistake. We fall in love when our imagination projects nonexistent perfections on to another person. One day the phantasmagoria vanishes, and with it love dies. [Samuel R. Delany](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany.md) · [The Einstein Intersection](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/the-einstein-intersection.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/the-einstein-intersection/it-is-not.md) Topics: [love](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/love.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [disappointment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/disappointment.md) > Imagination should be used for something other than pondering murder, don’t you think? [Samuel R. Delany](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany.md) · [Babel-17](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/babel-17.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/babel-17/imagination-should-be-used.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > They did not realize that reality must prove itself again and again to questioners, and that it is the fantasy which goes on without contradiction, without having to prove itself under logical rigour. The idea of asking questions was almost impossible; but only almost. [Samuel R. Delany](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany.md) · [The Towers of Toron](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/the-towers-of-toron.md) · p. 275 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/samuel-r-delany/the-towers-of-toron/they-did-not.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [reality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reality.md) > “I came," she said, "hoping you could talk me out of a fantasy. "Cherish it!" cried Hilarious, fiercely. "What else do any of you have? Hold it tightly by it's little tentacle, don't let the Freudians coax it away or the pharmacists poison it out of you. Whatever it is, hold it dear, for when you lose it you go over by that much to the others. You begin to cease to be.” [Thomas Pynchon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon.md) · [The Crying of Lot 49](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon/the-crying-of-lot-49.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-pynchon/the-crying-of-lot-49/i-came-she.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams and aspirations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams-and-aspirations.md) > Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A Beauty Bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air — explode softly — and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth — boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap either — not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination instead of death. A child who touched one wouldn't have his hand blown off. [Robert Fulghum](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-fulghum.md) · [All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-fulghum/all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-fulghum/all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten/maybe-we-should.md) Topics: [war](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/war.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The trophy-recreationist has peculiarities that contribute in subtle ways to his own undoing. To enjoy he must possess, invade, appropriate. Hence the wilderness that he cannot personally see has no value to him. Hence the universal assumption that an unused hinterland is rendering no service to society. To those devoid of imagination a blank place on the map is a useless waste; to others, the most valuable part. [Aldo Leopold](https://www.leafyquotes.com/aldo-leopold.md) · [A Sand County Almanac](https://www.leafyquotes.com/aldo-leopold/a-sand-county-almanac.md) · p. 176 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/aldo-leopold/a-sand-county-almanac/the-trophy-recreationist-has.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Choke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/choke.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/choke/nothing-is-as-perfect.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Here in your mind you have complete privacy. Here there's no difference between what is and what could be. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Choke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/choke.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/choke/here-in-your.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because it's only intangibles, ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. Stone crumbles. Wood rots. People, well, they die. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on. If you can change the way people think. The way they see themselves. The way they see the world. You can change the way people live their lives. That’s the only lasting thing you can create. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Choke](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/choke.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/choke/the-unreal-is-more.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [ideas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ideas.md) > I’ll make my report as if I told a story, for I was taught as a child on my homeworld that Truth is a matter of the imagination. The soundest fact may fail or prevail in the style of its telling: like that singular organic jewel of our seas, which grows brighter as one woman wears it and, worn by another, dulls and goes to dust. Facts are no more solid, coherent, round, and real than pearls are. But both are sensitive. [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin.md) · [The Left Hand of Darkness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-left-hand-of-darkness.md) · p. 1 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ursula-k-le-guin/the-left-hand-of-darkness/ill-make-my-report.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > You just think lovely wonderful thoughts and they lift you up in the air. [J.M. Barrie](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jm-barrie.md) · [Peter Pan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jm-barrie/peter-pan.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jm-barrie/peter-pan/you-just-think.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Culture is the attempt by man to realize the conceivable in the possible. Man’s consciousness of himself within his environment distinguishes him from the lower animals, and turns him into the only animal capable of culture. This consciousness, his highest faculty, allows him to project mentally states of being that do not exist at the moment. Able to construct a past and future, he becomes a creature of time – a historian and a prophet. More than this, he can imagine objects and states of being that have never existed and may never exist in the real world – he becomes a maker of art. Thus, for example, though the ancient Greeks did not know how to fly, still they could imagine it. The myth of Icarus was the formulation in fantasy of their conception of the state ‘flying’. But man was not only able to project the conceivable into fantasy. He also learned to impose it on reality: by accumulating knowledge, learning experience, about that reality and how to handle it, he could shape it to his liking. This accumulation of skills for controlling the environment, technology, is another means to reaching the same end, the realization of the conceivable in the possible. [Shulamith Firestone](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shulamith-firestone.md) · [The Dialectic of Sex: The Case for Feminist Revolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shulamith-firestone/the-dialectic-of-sex-the-case-for-feminist-revolution.md) · p. 172 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/shulamith-firestone/the-dialectic-of-sex-the-case-for-feminist-revolution/culture-is-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [culture](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/culture.md) > But, as sages have long said, the sexiest part of the body and the best aphrodisiac in the world is the imagination. [Diane Ackerman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diane-ackerman.md) · [A Natural History of the Senses](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diane-ackerman/a-natural-history-of-the-senses.md) · p. 131 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/diane-ackerman/a-natural-history-of-the-senses/but-as-sages.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [sex](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/sex.md) > In the effort to tell a whole story, to see it whole and clear, I have had to imagine more than I have known. [Wendell Berry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry.md) · [The Way of Ignorance](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/the-way-of-ignorance.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/wendell-berry/the-way-of-ignorance/in-the-effort.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > But his heart was in a constant, turbulent riot. The most grotesque and fantastic conceits haunted him in his bed at night. A universe of ineffable gaudiness spun itself out in his brain while the clock ticked on the washstand and the moon soaked with wet light his tangled clothes upon the floor. Each night he added to the pattern of his fancies until drowsiness closed down upon some vivid scene with an oblivious embrace. For a while these reveries provided an outlet for his imagination; they were a satisfactory hint of the unreality of reality, a promise that the rock of the world was founded securely on a fairy’s wing. [F.Scott Fitzgerald](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fscott-fitzgerald.md) · [The Great Gatsby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fscott-fitzgerald/the-great-gatsby.md) · p. 99 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/fscott-fitzgerald/the-great-gatsby/but-his-heart.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does not consist in creating out of void, but out of chaos; the materials must, in the first place, be afforded: it can give form to dark, shapeless substances, but cannot bring into being the substance itself. In all matters of discovery and invention, even of those that appertain to the imagination, we are continually reminded of the story of Columbus and his egg. Invention consists in the capacity of seizing on the capabilities of a subject, and in the power of moulding and fashioning ideas suggested to it. [Mary Shelley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley.md) · [Frankenstein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley/frankenstein.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley/frankenstein/invention-it-must.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > As a child I scribbled; and my favourite pastime, during the hours given me for recreation, was to "write stories." Still I had a dearer pleasure than this, which was the formation of castles in the air—the indulging in waking dreams—the following up trains of thought, which had for their subject the formation of a succession of imaginary incidents. My dreams were at once more fantastic and agreeable than my writings. [Mary Shelley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley.md) · [Frankenstein](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley/frankenstein.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mary-shelley/frankenstein/as-a-child.md) Topics: [writing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/writing.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams and aspirations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams-and-aspirations.md) > We certainly have at present the dismal situation that the most imaginative men are directed by a group, the top managers, who are among the least. [Paul Goodman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman.md) · [Growing Up Absurd](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd.md) · p. 94 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-goodman/growing-up-absurd/we-certainly-have.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [business](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/business.md) > Everyone makes and has need of making a world other than the one he sees. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/everyone-makes-and.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Fear feeds the imagination. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/fear-feeds-the.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The imagination is an eye where images remain forever. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/the-imagination-is-an-eye.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The imagination has made more discoveries than the eye. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/the-imagination-has.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Perhaps (and probably) it would be true to say that we cannot conceive of anything except what we can see in our minds. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/perhaps-and-probably.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > What our eyes see, our imagination can no longer see. The same thing cannot be the object of both kinds of seeing. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/what-our-eyes.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Close your eyes and you will see. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/close-your-eyes.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The imagination is the eye of the soul. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/the-imagination-is-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [soul](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/soul.md) > He who has imagination without learning has wings but no feet. [Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert.md) · [The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/joseph-joubert/the-notebooks-of-joseph-joubert/he-who-has.md) Topics: [knowledge](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/knowledge.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > I do not paint by copying nature. Everything I do springs from my wild imagination. [Paul Gauguin](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-gauguin.md) · [The Writings Of A Savage](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-gauguin/the-writings-of-a-savage.md) · p. 22 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/paul-gauguin/the-writings-of-a-savage/i-do-not.md) Topics: [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Obviously the facts are never just coming at you but are incorporated by an imagination that is formed by your previous experience. Memories of the past are not memories of facts but memories of your imaginings of the facts. [Philip Roth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-roth.md) · [The Facts](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-roth/the-facts.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/philip-roth/the-facts/obviously-the-facts.md) Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > One cannot fix one's eyes on the commonest natural production without finding food for a rambling fancy. [Jane Austen](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen.md) · [Mansfield Park](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/mansfield-park.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jane-austen/mansfield-park/one-cannot-fix.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Oh, God, children are children, old women are old women, and nothing in between. They can’t imagine a change they can’t see. [Ray Bradbury](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ray-bradbury.md) · [Dandelion Wine](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ray-bradbury/dandelion-wine.md) · p. 74 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ray-bradbury/dandelion-wine/oh-god-children.md) Topics: [old age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/old-age.md), [children](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/children.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > I don't like film. Film is too clankingly real, too permanent, too industrial for me. … The worst thing about film, from my point of view, is that it cripples illusions which I have encouraged people to create in their heads. Film doesn't create illusions. It makes them impossible. It's a bullying form of reality, like the model rooms in the furniture department of Bloomingdale's. [Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut.md) · [Between Time and Timbuktu](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/between-time-and-timbuktu.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/kurt-vonnegut/between-time-and-timbuktu/i-dont-like.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [cinema](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/cinema.md) > Philosophers' Syndrome: mistaking a failure of the imagination for an insight into necessity. [Daniel Dennett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-dennett.md) · [Consciousness Explained](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-dennett/consciousness-explained.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-dennett/consciousness-explained/philosophers-syndrome-mistaking.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [philosophy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/philosophy.md) > A prosthetically enhanced imagination is still liable to failure, especially if it is not used with sufficient rigor. [Daniel Dennett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-dennett.md) · [Darwin's Dangerous Idea](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-dennett/darwins-dangerous-idea.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/daniel-dennett/darwins-dangerous-idea/a-prosthetically-enhanced.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > To live in such a place was, for Isabel, to hold to her ear all day a shell of the sea of the past. This vague eternal rumour kept her imagination awake. [Henry James](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james.md) · [The Portrait of a Lady](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/henry-james/the-portrait-of-a-lady/to-live-in-such.md) Topics: [the past](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-past.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > What a glorious gift is imagination, and what satisfaction it affords! [Thomas Mann](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-mann.md) · [Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-mann/confessions-of-felix-krull-confidence-man.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-mann/confessions-of-felix-krull-confidence-man/what-a-glorious.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Most of the things people say they remember they only imagine anyways. [Orson Scott Card](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card.md) · [Earthborn](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/earthborn.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/earthborn/most-of-the.md) Topics: [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Before the story he refused to even think about it; after the story, it became conceivable to him, and, once he could conceive of it, it soon became inevitable. [Orson Scott Card](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card.md) · [Enchantment](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/enchantment.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/orson-scott-card/enchantment/before-the-story.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [storytelling](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/storytelling.md) > Old George Orwell got it backward. Big Brother isn't watching. He's singing and dancing. He's pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big Brother's busy holding your attention every moment you're awake. He's making sure you're always distracted. He's making sure you're fully absorbed. He's making sure your imagination withers. Until it's as useful as your appendix. He's making sure your attention is always filled. And this being fed, it's worse than being watched. With the world always filling you, no one has to worry about what's in your mind. With everyone's imagination atrophied, no one will ever be a threat to the world. [Chuck Palahniuk](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk.md) · [Lullaby](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chuck-palahniuk/lullaby/old-george-orwell.md) Topics: [media](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/media.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [manipulation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/manipulation.md) > There are many doors to Fantastica. There are other such magical books. A lot of people read them without noticing. It all depends on who lays hands on the book. [Michael Ende](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-ende.md) · [The Neverending Story](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-ende/the-neverending-story.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-ende/the-neverending-story/there-are-many.md) Topics: [reading](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reading.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > There are people that can't go to Fantastica. There are those who can but never return. And there are just a few who go to Fantastica and come back. And they make both worlds well again. [Michael Ende](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-ende.md) · [The Neverending Story](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-ende/the-neverending-story.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/michael-ende/the-neverending-story/there-are-people.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > We balance probabilities and choose the most likely. It is the scientific use of the imagination. [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle.md) · [The Hound of the Baskervilles](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles.md) · p. 687 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/arthur-conan-doyle/the-hound-of-the-baskervilles/we-balance-probabilities.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > "There, Master Niketas," Baudolino said, "when I was not prey to the temptations of this world, I devoted my nights to imagining other worlds. ... There is nothing better than imagining other worlds," he said, "to forget the painful one we live in. At least so I thought then. I hadn't yet realized that, imagining other worlds, you end up changing this one." [Umberto Eco](https://www.leafyquotes.com/umberto-eco.md) · [Baudolino](https://www.leafyquotes.com/umberto-eco/baudolino.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/umberto-eco/baudolino/there-master-niketas.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > For more than three decades the Americans had been gradually sliding into isolationism and industrial decline. Space, he thought ruefully, they should have gone into space. He'd never understood the strange paralysis of will that had seemed to grip their brilliant early efforts. Or perhaps it was simply a failure of imagination, of vision. [William Gibson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson.md) · [Burning Chrome](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/burning-chrome.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-gibson/burning-chrome/for-more-than.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [the universe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-universe.md), [America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/america.md) > Why are the theories of physics so similar in their structure? > > There are a number of possibilities. The first is the limited imagination of physicists: when we see a new phenomenon, we try to fit it into the framework we already have—until we have made enough experiments, we don't know that it doesn't work. So when some fool physicist gives a lecture at UCLA in 1983 and says, “This is the way it works, and look how wonderfully similar the theories are,” it's not because Nature is really similar; it's because the physicists have only been able to think of the same damn thing, over and over again. > > Another possibility is that it is the same damn thing over and over again—that Nature has only one way of doing things, and She repeats her story from time to time. > > A third possibility is that things look similar because they are aspects of the same thing—some larger picture underneath, from which things can be broken into parts that look different, like fingers on the same hand. Many physicists are working very hard trying to put together a grand picture that unifies everything into one super-duper model. It's a delightful game, but at present time none of the speculators agree with any of the other speculators as to what the grand picture is. [Richard P. Feynman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman.md) · [Qed](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/qed.md) · p. 149 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/qed/why-are-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [physics](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/physics.md) > Nature's imagination far surpasses our own. [Richard P. Feynman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman.md) · [The Character of Physical Law](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/the-character-of-physical-law.md) · p. 162 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/the-character-of-physical-law/natures-imagination-far.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Our imagination is stretched to the utmost, not, as in fiction, to imagine things which are not really there, but just to comprehend those things which are there. [Richard P. Feynman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman.md) · [The Character of Physical Law](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/the-character-of-physical-law.md) · p. 127 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/richard-p-feynman/the-character-of-physical-law/our-imagination-is-stretched.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > This is the awe-inspiring universe of magic: There are no atoms, only waves and motions all around. Here, you discard all belief in barriers to understanding. You put aside understanding itself. This universe cannot be seen, cannot be heard, cannot be detected in any way by fixed perceptions. It is the ultimate void where no preordained screens occur upon which forms may be projected. You have only one awareness here — the screen of the magi: Imagination! Here, you learn what it is to be human. You are a creator of order, of beautiful shapes and systems, an organizer of chaos. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Heretics of Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/heretics-of-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/heretics-of-dune/this-is-the.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Religion is the emulation of the adult by the child. Religion is the encystment of past beliefs: mythology, which is guesswork, the assumptions of trust in the universe, those pronouncements which men have made in search of personal power, all of it mingled with shreds of enlightenment. And always the ultimate unspoken commandment is "Thou shall not question!" But we question. We break that commandment as a matter of course. The work to which we have set ourselves is the liberating of the imagination, the harnessing of imagination to humankind's deepest sense of creativity. [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Children Of Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/children-of-dune/religion-is-the.md) Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Only those with narrow minds fail to see that the definition of impossible is "Lack of imagination and incentive." [Frank Herbert](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert.md) · [Dune](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/frank-herbert/dune/only-those-with.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > “Imagination, of course, can open any door - turn the key and let terror walk right in.” [Truman Capote](https://www.leafyquotes.com/truman-capote.md) · [In Cold Blood](https://www.leafyquotes.com/truman-capote/in-cold-blood.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/truman-capote/in-cold-blood/imagination-of-course.md) Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Let faith oust fact; let fancy oust memory; I look deep down and do believe. [Herman Melville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville.md) · [Moby-Dick](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick.md) · p. 545 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/herman-melville/moby-dick/let-faith-oust.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > The principle of equality does not destroy the imagination, but lowers its flight to the level of the earth. [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexis-de-tocqueville.md) · [Democracy in America](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexis-de-tocqueville/democracy-in-america.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/alexis-de-tocqueville/democracy-in-america/the-principle-of-equality.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [equality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/equality.md) > We've tended in our cosmologies to make things familiar. Despite all our best efforts, we've not been very inventive. In the West, Heaven is placid and fluffy, and Hell is like the inside of a volcano. In many stories, both realms are governed by dominance hierarchies headed by gods or devils. Monotheists talked about the king of kings. In every culture we imagined something like our own political system running the Universe. Few found the similarity suspicious. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Pale Blue Dot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/pale-blue-dot.md) · p. 46 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/pale-blue-dot/weve-tended-in-our.md) Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [the universe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-universe.md) > Humans are good, she knew, at discerning subtle patterns that are really there, but equally so at imagining them when they are altogether absent. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Contact](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/contact.md) · p. 44 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/contact/humans-are-good.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [skepticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/skepticism.md) > Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere. [Carl Sagan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan.md) · [Cosmos](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/cosmos.md) · p. 4 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carl-sagan/cosmos/imagination-will-often.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > "This isn’t about what is," said Mr. Nancy. "It’s about what people think is. It’s all imaginary anyway. That’s why it’s important. People only fight over imaginary things." [Neil Gaiman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman.md) · [American Gods](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/american-gods.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/american-gods/this-isnt-about.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > People believe, thought Shadow. It's what people do. They believe. And then they will not take responsibility for their beliefs; they conjure things, and do not trust the conjurations. People populate the darkness; with ghosts, with gods, with electrons, with tales. People imagine, and people believe: and it is that belief, that rock-solid belief, that makes things happen. [Neil Gaiman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman.md) · [American Gods](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/american-gods.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/american-gods/people-believe-thought.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > A dream is nothing else but a bubbling scum or froth of the fancy, which the day hath left undigested; or an after-feast made of the fragments of idle imaginations. [Thomas Nashe](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-nashe.md) · [The Terrors of the Night](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-nashe/the-terrors-of-the-night.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/thomas-nashe/the-terrors-of-the-night/a-dream-is-nothing-else.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams.md) > I say, then, that belief is nothing but a more vivid, lively, forcible, firm, steady conception of an object, than what the imagination alone is ever able to attain [David Hume](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume.md) · [An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/an-enquiry-concerning-human-understanding.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/an-enquiry-concerning-human-understanding/i-say-then.md) Topics: [faith](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/faith.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > This deficiency in our ideas is not, indeed, perceived in common life, nor are we sensible, that in the most usual conjunctions of cause and effect we are as ignorant of the ultimate principle, which binds them together, as in the most unusual and extraordinary. But this proceeds merely from an illusion of the imagination; and the question is, how far we ought to yield to these illusions. This question is very difficult, and reduces us to a very dangerous dilemma, whichever way we answer it. For if we assent to every trivial suggestion of the fancy; beside that these suggestions are often contrary to each other; they lead us into such errors, absurdities, and obscurities, that we must at last become asham'd of our credulity. Nothing is more dangerous to reason than the flights of the imagination, and nothing has been the occasion of more mistakes among philosophers. Men of bright fancies may in this respect be compar'd to those angels, whom the scripture represents as covering their eyes with their wings. This has already appear'd in so many instances, that we may spare ourselves the trouble of enlarging upon it any farther. [David Hume](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume.md) · [A Treatise of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-hume/a-treatise-of-human-nature/this-deficiency-in-our.md) Topics: [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md) > There is something strangely winning to most women in that offer of the firm arm; the help is not wanted physically at that moment, but the sense of help, the presence of strength that is outside them and yet theirs, meets a continual want of the imagination. [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [The Mill on the Floss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/the-mill-on-the-floss.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/the-mill-on-the-floss/there-is-something.md) Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination is a licensed trespasser: it has no fear of dogs, but may climb over walls and peep in at windows with impunity. [George Eliot](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot.md) · [Adam Bede](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/adam-bede.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-eliot/adam-bede/imagination-is-a-licensed.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > ... so vast, so limitless in capacity is man's imagination to disperse and burn away the rubble-dross of fact and probability, leaving only truth and dream. [William Faulkner](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-faulkner.md) · [Requiem for a Nun](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-faulkner/requiem-for-a-nun.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-faulkner/requiem-for-a-nun/so-vast-so-limitless.md) Topics: [truth](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/truth.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [dreams and aspirations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/dreams-and-aspirations.md) > Imaginary pains are by far the most real we suffer, since we feel a constant need for them and invent them because there is no way of doing without them. [Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [The Trouble With Being Born](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/the-trouble-with-being-born/imaginary-pains-are.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Life is possible only by the deficiencies of our imagination and memory. [Emil Cioran](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran.md) · [A Short History of Decay](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emil-cioran/a-short-history-of-decay/life-is-possible.md) Topics: [life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/life.md), [memory](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/memory.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Every feeling of hardship is inseparable from the desire to escape from it; every idea of pleasure from the desire to enjoy it. All desire implies a want, and all wants are painful; hence our wretchedness consists in the disproportion between our desires and our powers. A conscious being whose powers were equal to his desires would be perfectly happy. What then is human wisdom? Where is the path of true happiness? The mere limitation of our desires is not enough, for if they were less than our powers, part of our faculties would be idle, and we should not enjoy our whole being; neither is the mere extension of our powers enough, for if our desires were also increased we should only be the more miserable. True happiness consists in decreasing the difference between our desires and our powers, in establishing a perfect equilibrium between the power and the will. Then only, when all its forces are employed, will the soul be at rest and man will find himself in his true position. > > It is only in this primitive condition that we find the equilibrium between desire and power, and then alone man is not unhappy. As soon as his potential powers of mind begin to function, imagination, more powerful than all the rest, awakes, and precedes all the rest. It is imagination which enlarges the bounds of possibility for us, whether for good or ill, and therefore stimulates and feeds desires by the hope of satisfying them. But the object which seemed within our grasp flies quicker than we can follow; when we think we have grasped it, it transforms itself and is again far ahead of us. We no longer perceive the country we have traversed, and we think nothing of it; that which lies before us becomes vaster and stretches still before us. Thus we exhaust our strength, yet never reach our goal, and the nearer we are to pleasure, the further we are from happiness. > > The world of reality has its bounds, the world of imagination is boundless; as we cannot enlarge the one, let us restrict the other; for all the sufferings which really make us miserable arise from the difference between the real and the imaginary. Health, strength, and a good conscience excepted, all the good things of life are a matter of opinion; except bodily suffering and remorse, all our woes are imaginary. You will tell me this is a commonplace; I admit it, but its practical application is no commonplace, and it is with practice only that we are now concerned. [Jean Jacques Rousseau](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau.md) · [Emile; or On Education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-jacques-rousseau/emile-or-on-education/every-feeling-of-hardship.md) Topics: [happiness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/happiness.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [desire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/desire.md) > Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young. [William Somerset Maugham](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham.md) · [The Summing Up](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/the-summing-up.md) · p. 164 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-somerset-maugham/the-summing-up/imagination-grows-by-exercise.md) Topics: [old age](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/old-age.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Imagination, which is the social sense, animates the inanimate and anthropomorphizes everything; it humanizes everything and even makes everything identical with man. And the work of man is to supernaturalize Nature — that is to say, to make it divine by making it human, to help it to become conscious of itself, in short. The action of reason, on the other hand, is to mechanize or materialize. [Miguel de Unamuno](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno.md) · [Tragic Sense of Life](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/miguel-de-unamuno/tragic-sense-of-life/imagination-which-is-the.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [reason](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/reason.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Thinking, meditating, imagining are not anomalous acts – they are the normal respiration of the intelligence. To glorify the occasional exercise of that function, to treasure beyond price ancient and foreign thoughts, to recall with incredulous awe what some doctor universalis thought, is to confess our own languor, or our own barbarie. Every man should be capable of all ideas, and I believe that in the future he shall be. [Jorge Luis Borges](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jorge-luis-borges.md) · [The Garden of Forking Paths](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jorge-luis-borges/the-garden-of-forking-paths.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jorge-luis-borges/the-garden-of-forking-paths/thinking-meditating-imagining.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [ideas](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/ideas.md) > He could not be captured, > > He could not be bought, > > His running was rhythm, > > His standing was thought; > > With one eye on sorrow > > And one eye on mirth, > > He galloped in heaven > > And gambolled on earth. And only the poet > > With wings to his brain > > Can mount him and ride him > > Without any rein, > > The stallion of heaven, > > The steed of the skies, > > The horse of the singer > > Who sings as he flies. [Eleanor Farjeon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eleanor-farjeon.md) · [The New Book of Days](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eleanor-farjeon/the-new-book-of-days.md) · p. 181 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eleanor-farjeon/the-new-book-of-days/he-could-not.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md), [poetry](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/poetry.md) > You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. [Mark Twain](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain.md) · [A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/a-connecticut-yankee-in-king-arthurs-court.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/mark-twain/a-connecticut-yankee-in-king-arthurs-court/you-cant-depend.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md) > Must then a Christ perish in torment in every age to save those that have no imagination? [George Bernard Shaw](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw.md) · [Saint Joan](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/saint-joan.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/george-bernard-shaw/saint-joan/must-then-a-christ.md) Topics: [imagination](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/imagination.md)