The quote "Still follow sense, of ev’ry art the soul, Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole," is a profound statement about the importance of coherence, balance, and harmony in any endeavor. The first part, "Still follow sense, of ev’ry art the soul," suggests that sense, or rationality, is the essence of every art. It implies that every art form, be it painting, music, literature, or others, is grounded in logic and reason, even if it may seem abstract or emotional on the surface.
The second part, "Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole," speaks to the idea of unity and harmony. It suggests that when different elements or ‘parts’ of a work are in harmony with each other, they ‘answer’ to each other, creating a coherent and balanced ‘whole’. This is a fundamental principle in many art forms, where various elements must work together to create a cohesive piece.
In today’s world, this idea can be applied in various contexts. In business, for instance, different departments must work in harmony to achieve the company’s overall goals. In personal development, it can refer to the need for balance in different aspects of one’s life – physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual – to achieve overall well-being.
Moreover, in the context of today’s digital age, this quote can be applied to the design and development of technology. For a software or an app to work effectively, different parts of the code must ‘answer’ to each other, creating a seamless user experience. Similarly, in the field of data science, different pieces of information must come together to form meaningful insights.
In conclusion, this quote emphasizes the importance of sense, harmony, and balance in all endeavors, and these principles remain as relevant today as they were in Pope’s time.