One must be a living man and a posthumous artist.
Jean CocteauRead
The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our nose, and we will be forced to flee.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Different senses have varying tolerances and reactions to artistic expressions.
Jean Cocteau's quote suggests that while the ear may not always appreciate certain music, it can still tolerate it. However, if the same pieces were to be translated into smells, the reaction would be much more instinctive and possibly negative, indicating how our senses can react differently to artistic expressions depending on their nature and our personal thresholds.
Themes
MusicArtSensesToleranceEmotions
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion about the impact of senses in art.
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