If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat.
Jean-Paul SartreRead
Originally, poetry creates the myth, while the prose-writer draws its portrait.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Poetry shapes the essence of myths, while prose provides a detailed depiction of them.
This quote by Jean-Paul Sartre suggests that poetry and prose serve different purposes in the realm of storytelling and expression. Poetry is seen as a creative force that gives rise to myths, encapsulating deep truths and emotions in a succinct and impactful form, whereas prose is the medium that elaborates on these myths, providing a clear picture and deeper understanding of the narratives established by poetry.
Themes
PoetryProseMythArtExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about the roles of different writing styles, one might say, 'As Sartre noted, originally, poetry creates the myth, while the prose-writer draws its portrait.'
More from Jean-Paul Sartre
All quotes βAll I want is' - and he uttered the final words through clenched teeth and with a sort of shame - 'to retain my freedom.' I should myself have thought,' said Jacques, 'that freedom consisted in frankly confronting situations into which one had deliberately entered, and accepting all one's responsibilities. But that, no doubt, is not your view.
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If you are lonely when you're alone, you are in bad company.
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A kiss without a moustache, they said then, is like an egg without salt; I will add to it: and it is like Good without Evil.
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I wanted pure love: foolishness; to love one another is to hate a common enemy: I will thus espouse your hatred. I wanted Good: nonsense; on this earth and in these times, Good and Bad are inseparable: I accept to be evil in order to become good.
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Night is falling: at dusk, you must have good eyesight to be able to tell the Good Lord from the Devil.
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