"The worst sin that can be committed against the artist is to take him at his word, to see in his work a fulfillment instead of an horizon"

This quote by Henry Miller speaks with the concept that as audiences or customers of art, we often make the error of taking the artist's words and intents too actually. By doing so, we restrict the potential and depth of their work. Miller suggests that instead of seeing an artist's work as an ended up product or a direct representation of their ideas and beliefs, we must view it as an open-ended horizon, full of possibilities and analyses. By doing this, we permit the artist's work to continue to develop and speak to us in brand-new ways, instead of confining it to a single meaning. Eventually, Miller argues that the real beauty and power of art lies in its ability to transcend words and expectations, and to continuously challenge and motivate us.