"No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist"

This quote by Oscar Wilde talks to the concept that imagination and artistry originate from a location of imagination and analysis. It suggests that an excellent artist is able to look beyond what is seen and experienced in the real world and instead create something new and special. The quote implies that if an artist were to just accept truth as it is, they would no longer have the ability to produce art. This is since art is a form of expression that needs the artist to take what they see and interpret it in such a way that is significant to them. By doing this, the artist is able to produce something that is special and talks to their own specific experience. In essence, this quote is a reminder that art is a type of expression that needs the artist to look beyond what is seen and experienced in the physical world.