Full Idea
The highest feelings to which mankind has attained can only be transmitted from man to man by art.
Gist of Idea
The highest feelings of mankind can only be transmitted by art
Source
Leo Tolstoy (What is Art? [1898], Ch.17)
Book Reference
Tolstoy,Leo: 'What is Art? and Essays on Art', ed/tr. Maude,A [OUP 1975], p.251
A Reaction
We are much more nervous these days of talking about 'highest' feelings. Tolstoy obviously considers religion to be an ingredient of the highest feelings, but that prevents us from judging them purely as feelings. Music is the place to rank feelings.