The Art

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"The art really is in isolating yourself and letting as few things into your head as possible. To only admit those things into your head that come from a direction where no one else ever looks. That is the difficult thing."
W.G. Sebald

This is a very profound thought - or maybe it just seems profound to me because of a particular state of mind at a particular time. Sebald speaks of "the art" but does not specify the art of what. We can assume that he means the art of living, but this can also be narrowed down to specifics - writing of course comes straight to my mind,or anything creative. But surely knowing the art of living must be one of the most amazing things to be able to get to grips with. Sebald admits it's difficult. I will do my best to try.

Comments

subu.ps said…
Hello Lexia
Mr.Sebald is talking about creativity. Creativity, in any art (read in any field) means thinking in a direction which no one ever has thought. This will not be possible unless one close down the doors for the normal thinking and think in a different direction. If ones head is fully occupied by regular thoughts then he won’t have any space for thinking in a new direction, he will not have any space to accommodate the thoughts coming from a direction which no one has ever treaded.
Thanks for sharing this interesting quote, made me ponder over it for a while.
Thanks and regards
Subu
4 June 2010 at 01:18
Lexia257 said…
Thanks for your comment subu. Your thoughts are very much like those in Buddhism. I find this way of very difficult to adhere to - but of course it is a strict discipline, which perhaps I do not have !
7 June 2010 at 03:37
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