"The waking mind is the least serviceable in the arts"

In this quote, Henry Miller recommends that the mindful mind, or the "waking mind," is not extremely beneficial when it concerns developing art. He indicates that the real source of creativity and motivation lies within the subconscious mind, which is typically active during sleep or in a dream-like state. Miller might be suggesting that the conscious mind is restricted in its ability to believe outside of package and create really original concepts. Instead, he encourages artists to tap into their subconscious and let their creativity run wild in order to produce really unique and significant works of art.