This quote is a vivid metaphor illustrating the transformative power of art. It suggests that when an artist, specifically a sculptor in this context, interacts with their medium, in this case, stones or rocks, they infuse it with life. This is not literal life, of course, but the life of the mind, the spirit, and the imagination. The artist’s vision, skill, and passion can make inanimate objects seem to "leap" into form and "live" as expressions of human thought, emotion, and creativity.

The "sister arts" mentioned could be painting, music, dance, drama, literature, and so on, all of which share the same transformative power. They all have the ability to take raw, unformed material – a blank canvas, silence, an empty stage, a blank page – and turn it into something alive and meaningful.

In today’s world, this quote could be applied to any creative endeavor. It doesn’t have to be traditional art. For example, a software developer might see coding as their form of sculpture. They take the raw material of computer language and shape it into a functioning, useful, and sometimes even beautiful program. A teacher might see their students as the raw material they help shape into educated, thoughtful individuals.

In terms of personal development, this quote could inspire us to see our own lives as works of art in progress. We are both the sculptor and the stone, continually shaping ourselves through our choices, actions, and experiences. The raw material of our lives can seem hard and unyielding, like stone, but with effort, imagination, and patience, we can transform it into something meaningful and beautiful. We can make our lives "leap to form" and truly "live.