“Reality is a cliché from which we escape by metaphor.”
What this quote means
This quote by Wallace Stevens explores the role of metaphor in our understanding of the world. Reality, as it is, can seem mundane or repetitive, a 'cliché' we endure. Metaphor, by creating bridges between different ideas, allows us to see the world in a new light, to escape monotony, and to give meaning to our experience. It highlights the power of imagination and art to transform our perception and enrich our lives.
How to apply it daily
Choose an aspect of your daily life you find boring. Create a personal metaphor to describe it and observe how it changes your perspective.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.”Create visual
“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.”Create visual
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”Create visual
“This is the best of all possible worlds.”Create visual
“Music is the pleasure the human mind experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting.”Create visual
“He who understands the universe as a whole understands it as the best of all possible worlds.”Create visual