That which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal; from which it follows that irregularity – that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and astonishment, are a essential part and characteristic of beauty.
Charles BaudelaireRead
You have to be always drunk. That's all there is to it-it's the only way. So as not to feel the horrible burden of time that breaks your back and bends you to the earth, you have to be continually drunk. But on what? Wine, poetry or virtue, as you wish. But be drunk.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that one should find ways to escape the burdens of reality, whether through substances, art, or morals.
Charles Baudelaire emphasizes the importance of maintaining a continuous sense of intoxication—be it through wine, poetry, or virtue—to avoid the heavy weight of time and the inevitable struggles that life presents. This 'drunkenness' symbolizes an escape mechanism from the harshness of reality, encouraging individuals to immerse themselves in experiences that elevate their existence and alleviate the heaviness of life’s burdens.
Themes
IntoxicationBurdenTimeEscapeArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about coping with stress and anxiety, one might use this quote to emphasize the need for creative outlets.
More from Charles Baudelaire
All quotes →The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.
Charles BaudelaireRead
Who among us has not dreamt, in moments of ambition, of the miracle of a poetic prose, musical without rhythm and rhyme, supple and staccato enough to adapt to the lyrical stirrings of the soul, the undulations of dreams, and sudden leaps of consciousness.
Charles BaudelaireRead
There is no sweeter pleasure than to surprise a man by giving him more than he hopes for.
Charles BaudelaireRead
The priest is an immense being because he makes the crowd believe astonishing things.
Charles BaudelaireRead
I consider it useless and tedious to represent what exists, because nothing that exists satisfies me. Nature is ugly, and I prefer the monsters of my fancy to what is positively trivial.
Charles BaudelaireRead
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