"The essential function of art is moral. But a passionate, implicit morality, not didactic. A morality which changes the blood, rather than the mind"

David Herbert Lawrence's quote, "The vital function of art is ethical. However an enthusiastic, implicit morality, not didactic. A morality which changes the blood, rather than the mind", suggests that art's essential function is to provoke an ethical improvement, however in a way that engages deeply with the feelings and intuitions instead of through explicit instruction or moralizing. Lawrence is stressing the powerful, transformative capability of art to penetrate beyond the conscious mind, reaching into the really essence of our emotional and instinctual experience-- our "blood.".

By describing an "implicit" morality, Lawrence contrasts this with a didactic approach, where art works as a lorry for explicit messages or lessons. A didactically ethical art would seek to inform or advise through clear and intentional messages. Nevertheless, Lawrence believes that the real effect of art originates from its capability to resonate on a more instinctive level, preventing the intellect and cultivating moral development through psychological engagement and visceral experience.

When Lawrence mentions changing the "blood" instead of the "mind", he means the concept that genuine moral development stems from an intrinsic shift in our being, a modification that is felt deeply within the core of our mankind. This recommends that art has the power to influence who we are on an essential level, forming not simply how we believe, but likewise how we feel and connect with the world around us.

Lawrence's perspective raises the role of art to one of subtle impact, developing moral reflections within individuals that are felt rather than taught. This type of art welcomes viewers and individuals to experience compassion, compassion, and self-questioning, effecting modification through a more profound, practically cellular reaction. As a result, art ends up being a driver for a more individual and instinctive moral awakening, allowing a shift in the human spirit towards greater sensitivity and understanding.