That which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal; from which it follows that irregularity β that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and astonishment, are a essential part and characteristic of beauty.
Charles BaudelaireRead
All which is beautiful and noble is the result of reason and calculation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Beauty and nobility stem from thoughtful reasoning and careful planning.
In this quote, Charles Baudelaire suggests that true beauty and nobility in art, life, and human endeavors are not arbitrary or solely emotional but are instead rooted in reason and meticulous calculation. This implies that a thoughtful approach can lead to creations and purposes that elevate our experiences and understanding of the world.
Themes
BeautyNobilityReasonCalculationArtPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of art in education, one could quote this to emphasize the need for critical thinking.
More from Charles Baudelaire
All quotes βThe 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.
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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.
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There is no sweeter pleasure than to surprise a man by giving him more than he hopes for.
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The priest is an immense being because he makes the crowd believe astonishing things.
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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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