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
Dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music
Interpretation
What this quote means
Dance expresses the deeper meanings and emotions conveyed through music.
This quote highlights the profound connection between dance and music, suggesting that through the art of movement, one can uncover the hidden emotions and mysteries expressed in musical compositions. It implies that dance is not merely a physical activity but a means of interpretation and a way to communicate the complexities and subtleties of music that might otherwise remain concealed.
Themes
DanceMusicArtExpressionEmotionMystery
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of the arts, one could mention this quote to illustrate how dance interprets music.
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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