There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
The chief danger about Paris is that it is such a strong stimulant.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights how Paris can inspire and energize individuals, suggesting both its allure and potential distractions.
T. S. Eliot points out that while Paris is a city filled with vibrant life and creativity, its intoxicating nature can be overwhelming. The 'strong stimulant' metaphor implies that the city has a profound effect on one's thoughts and emotions, potentially leading to both inspiration and chaos. This duality reflects the allure of artistic and cultural hubs, where the very essence of the place can heighten one's experiences, yet also distract from more grounded pursuits.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about artistic inspiration, one might say, 'As T. S. Eliot noted, the chief danger about Paris is that it is such a strong stimulant.'
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes βHalf of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
For I have known them all already, known them allβ Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
Similar quotes
Westerns. A period gone by, the pioneer, the loner operating by himself, without benefit of society. It usually has something to do with some sort of vengeance; he takes care of the vengeance himself, doesn't call the police. Like Robin Hood. It's the last masculine frontier. Romantic myth. I guess, though it's hard to think about anything romantic today. In a Western you can think, Jesus, there was a time when man was alone, on horseback, out there where man hasn't spoiled the land yet.
The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
Our memory is made up of our individual memories and our collective memories. The two are intimately linked. And history is our collective memory. If our collective memory is taken from us - is rewritten - we lose the ability to sustain our true selves.
I realize that in this undertaking I place myself in a certain opposition to views widely held concerning the mathematical infinite and to opinions frequently defended on the nature of numbers.
Everyone has a story; everyone hides his past as a means of self-preservation. Some just do it better, and more thoroughly, than others.
In a media culture, we not only judge strangers by how they look but by the images of how they look. So we want attractive pictures of our heroes and repulsive images of our enemies.