The quote "Not what the mind sees, but what the mind imagines the eye must see" from Joyce Carol Oates' book "American Appetites" highlights the difference between reality and imagination. It suggests that perception is shaped more by our thoughts and emotions than by objective visual information. This underscores the power of the mind in interpreting experiences and reality.

In this context, Oates explores how individuals often create vivid mental images that go beyond what is physically present. This theme resonates with the complexities of human perception and the subjective nature of reality, where personal imagination plays a crucial role in defining one's view of the world.