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There is something suspicious about music, gentlemen. I insist that she is, by her nature, equivocal. I shall not be going too far in saying at once that she is politically suspect.
Thomas Mann
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that music holds ambiguous power and might be seen as politically dangerous.

Thomas Mann expresses a belief that music possesses an inherent ambiguity that can lead to suspicion, particularly in a political context. He implies that the emotional and intellectual responses elicited by music could be interpreted in various ways, potentially challenging or undermining social norms, which raises questions about its role in society.

Themes

MusicSuspicionPoliticsAmbiguityPower

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the role of music in political movements.

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