"If a poet knows more about a horse than he does about heaven, he might better stick to the horse, and some day the horse may carry him into heaven"

Charles Ives, the American modernist composer known for his experimental strategies and philosophical inquiries into the nature of art and expression, uses in this quote a deeply thought-provoking message about credibility, competence, and transcendence. At its core, the quote recommends that an artist must engage deeply with the subjects they are truly acquainted with and enthusiastic about, rather than aspiring to grasp and reveal more abstract or grandiose ideas that they might not totally understand.

"If a poet knows more about a horse than he does about heaven" positions the horse as a symbol of tangible, earthly knowledge, while paradise represents ideas of the divine, the ethereal, or the unknown. The poet's deeper knowledge of the horse implies a level of competence and genuine engagement with the subject matter. This shows the idea that real art comes from a place of authentic connection and understanding. In this context, the horse might represent any subject within an artist's realm of intimate understanding.

The phrase "he may better stick to the horse" encourages that an artist ought to focus on what they know finest. Instead of pursuing esoteric themes or attempting to force understanding of the mystical or abstract, it suggests that there is value and potential for transcendence in welcoming one's authentic experiences and understanding.

Lastly, the notion that "sooner or later the horse may carry him into heaven" presents the idea of transcendence through authenticity. By staying real to one's own experiences and insights, the artist might eventually reach extensive facts and even touch upon the divine in manner ins which are unique and genuine. This passage highlights the belief that knowledge and artistic satisfaction are achievable when one stays anchored in what they know deeply and can reveal with credibility.

Ultimately, Ives' quote champs the value of sincerity and genuine expression in art. It recommends that by completely exploring and accepting what is known, an artist can discover a course to axioms, knowledge, and maybe even the divine.