"Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness"

This quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne recommends that there is more to art than what is expressed on the surface. He thinks that those who have the ability to look beyond the literal significance of a poem, painting, or sculpture can find a deeper meaning and appreciate the art more. He believes that the greatest merit of art is its capability to suggest something more than what is clearly specified. This suggests that art can be translated in several ways and can be appreciated on a much deeper level. Hawthorne's quote encourages readers and viewers to look beyond the surface and check out the much deeper meaning of art.