People who love music, who can lose themselves in a book, or who can spend hours painting a picture of a barn know the deep satisfaction that can be found in art. It is not easy to express this satisfaction in words. But, in some partly mysterious way, works of art are among the things of highest value in our lives.

A fine piece of music, a masterpiece of painting, or a first-rate play has the power to capture and hold our fullest and most concentrated attention. We are completely wrapped up in it, and everything works out right. The music comes to the right close at the right time and in the right way. The play ends, not necessarily on a happy note, but in a way that seems inevitable and appropriate. As we grow more and more aware of the painting, its parts seem to belong together and to be made for each other. We perceive harmony in the object and feel harmony within ourselves.

When the aesthetic experience has ended, we often feel uplifted and refreshed. Our eyes and ears, our insight into other persons, or our understanding of moral values may be sharpened and refined. We may feel more at home with ourselves. Works of art have value for us in some such ways as these.

It is this value that marks the difference between great art and simple entertainment. A work that is fairly easy to understand and appreciate takes little effort on our part. It may give us pleasure. But it does not involve our emotions or our attention at a deep level. It may take our minds off our troubles for a time, but it does not give us the spiritually enriching experience of vital and orderly design.