he who feels the emotions to be described will be the most convincing; distress and anger, for instance, are portrayed most truthfully by one who is feeling them in the moment. Hence it is that poetry demands a man with a special gift for it, or else one with a touch of madness in him; the former can easily assume the required mood, and the latter may be actually beside himself with emotion.What immediately came to mind when reading this was bi-polar disorder. There are some theories in modern evolutionary psychology that bi-polar "disorder" is a trait that has has been preserved in humanity because it contributes to creativity, and there is evidence that many of the most creative minds throughout history have "suffered" from it. If bi-polar disorder allows one to more freely experience the full range of human emotions - from the highest highs to the lowest lows - they will be able to more honestly express these emotions in their art - be it painting, music, or writing.
