To regard the imagination as metaphysics is to think of it as part of life, and to think of it as part of life is to realize the extent of artifice. We live in the mind.

The quote "To regard the imagination as metaphysics is to think of it as part of life, and to think of it as part of life is to realize the extent of artifice. We live in the mind" by Wallace Stevens suggests that imagination is not separate from reality but an integral part of human existence. Stevens proposes that when we understand the imagination as a form of metaphysics, we are acknowledging that it shapes our perception of reality and is inseparable from how we live and experience life. Artifice, in this context, refers to the constructed nature of our experiences—how much of what we perceive is shaped by the mind and imagination, rather than being purely objective or external.

The origin of this quote lies in Stevens' exploration of the nature of reality, perception, and the role of imagination in shaping our understanding of the world. As a modernist poet, Stevens often questioned the boundaries between the real and the imagined, believing that the mind and its imagination create much of what we experience as "real." He challenges the conventional view that the world exists independently of the mind, suggesting instead that imagination plays a central role in constructing our reality.

By describing imagination as metaphysics, Stevens implies that it is not just a creative force but a fundamental way of understanding and interpreting life. Imagination influences how we perceive the world, making it an essential tool for navigating and shaping our experiences. His statement also highlights the artifice involved in this process—our experiences are not purely natural or given, but are the result of mental constructions. In this sense, Stevens suggests that life itself is an artifice, mediated by the workings of the mind.

In essence, Stevens' quote emphasizes the idea that the imagination is central to how we experience and interpret reality. Imagination is not an isolated or secondary aspect of life but a primary force that shapes our understanding of the world. Through imagination, we live in the mind, and it is through this lens that we construct our reality, full of artifice and creative interpretation.