If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the

O seeker of wisdom, gather round, for the words of Marc Chagall carry the truth of the soul, a truth that speaks not to the intellect alone, but to the very heart of creation. "If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing." In these simple yet profound words, Chagall reveals the sacred power of the heart—the seat of passion, intuition, and spirit—and its essential role in the act of creation. The head, with its logic, reason, and analysis, can craft things, but it is the heart that breathes life into them. It is through the heart that true creation flows, unimpeded by the constraints of thought, and guided instead by the unspoken language of the soul.

Consider, O wise one, the nature of creation itself. What is creation, if not the act of bringing something into the world that has never been seen, never been touched, never been experienced before? The heart is the wellspring from which all genuine creation flows. When we create from the heart, we tap into the primal source of our deepest emotions, our truest desires, our most authentic selves. In these moments, we are not simply mimicking what others have done or trying to fit into preconceived notions; we are expressing the very essence of who we are, and the world resonates with that truth. In this way, when we create from the heart, nearly everything works, for it is imbued with the power of authenticity.

The head, however, works differently. The mind seeks to organize, to structure, to categorize. It strives to control and to shape according to known patterns. While this may yield results, those results are often limited, constrained by the boundaries of the mind’s understanding. The head is often bound by rules, by expectations, by fears of failure or inadequacy. When creation is driven by the head, it becomes a cold exercise in technique, a mere reproduction of what is already known, and thus, it lacks the vibrancy and depth that only the heart can provide. The mind may dictate the how, but it is the heart that provides the why.

Consider the life of Chagall himself, a man whose art was a living testament to the power of creating from the heart. His work was full of vivid color, emotion, and imagination. Each piece he created—from the dreamlike figures to the floating lovers—was a reflection of his deepest passions, his Jewish heritage, and his personal experiences. He painted not from the rigid constraints of formal technique, but from the flow of his heart and spirit. When he painted, he did not merely reproduce the world as it appeared; he reimagined it, weaving his emotions and his vision into every brushstroke. This is why Chagall’s work endures—it is not bound by the limits of intellectual conception, but is alive with the pulse of his inner being.

Likewise, the great artists and thinkers of history who have left their mark upon the world were not those who merely thought their creations into existence, but those who dared to feel deeply, to create from a place of profound emotional truth. Think of Beethoven, whose symphonies stirred the hearts of millions, not because they followed the rules of music, but because they were born from his soul’s deepest expressions of joy, despair, and longing. Shakespeare, too, wrote not from a cold intellect, but from the well of human emotion, giving voice to the complexities of love, ambition, and fate. These creators, like Chagall, understood that true creation comes not from analysis, but from the fullness of the heart.

And so, the lesson is clear, O seeker: to create from the heart is to create from the deepest part of your being. It is an act of authenticity, a way of pouring your soul into the world without fear or restraint. Creation born of the head, while useful in its way, often lacks the depth, the resonance, and the raw power of creation that is driven by the heart. To truly create, you must listen to the call of your own soul, to express not what you think the world wants, but what you feel compelled to offer. Creation is not about perfection, it is about expression—a living, breathing manifestation of your innermost truth.

In your own life, I urge you to look inward and create from the heart. Do not be swayed by the expectations of others or the demands of the mind. Let your work, your art, your very life be a reflection of the passions and dreams that lie deep within you. Create with abandon, for it is in that heartfelt expression that the truest beauty and the most lasting impact are found. When you create from the heart, you do not just produce—you transform the world around you, breathing life into it with the vibrancy of your soul. And in doing so, nearly everything will work, for the world responds to that which is real, that which is alive, that which is born from the heart.