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
How little remains of the man I once was, save the memory of him! But remembering is only a new form of suffering.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the transformation of the self and the pain associated with memory.
Charles Baudelaire expresses a deep sense of loss and nostalgia for his former self, suggesting that while memories can serve as a connection to the past, they can also become a source of suffering. The acknowledgment that 'how little remains' indicates a significant change in identity, raising profound questions about the essence of self and the impact of time on personal evolution.
Themes
MemorySufferingTransformationIdentityNostalgia
In practice
Example use cases
In a reflective speech about personal growth and change.
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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