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
France is not poetic; she even feels, in fact, a congenital horror of poetry. Among the writers who use verse, those whom she will always prefer are the most prosaic.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Baudelaire suggests that France has a preference for straightforward expression over poetic sentiment.
In this quote, Charles Baudelaire conveys a sense of irony regarding the French attitude towards poetry and art. He observes that despite being a nation often associated with romanticism and artistic expression, France seems to favor prose and practicality over the emotional and imaginative elements of poetry. This highlights a cultural conflict between the expectations of poetic beauty and the reality of a more grounded literary preference.
Themes
FrancePoetryProseArtLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about cultural preferences in art.
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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