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
The poet enjoys the incomparable privilege of being able to be himself and others, as he wishes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The poet has the unique ability to express personal and universal experiences through imagination.
In this quote, Charles Baudelaire highlights the extraordinary freedom that poetry offers the poet, allowing him to transcend his own identity and embody various perspectives and emotions. This ability to express oneself while also portraying the experiences of others is a hallmark of artistic expression, reflecting both individuality and universality in the craft of poetry.
Themes
PoetExpressionIdentityArtImagination
In practice
Example use cases
During a poetry reading, one might use this quote to discuss the duality of the poet's role.
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.
Charles BaudelaireRead
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.
Charles BaudelaireRead
There is no sweeter pleasure than to surprise a man by giving him more than he hopes for.
Charles BaudelaireRead
The priest is an immense being because he makes the crowd believe astonishing things.
Charles BaudelaireRead
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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