It is difficult to write a paradiso when all the superficial indications are that you ought to write an apocalypse.
Ezra PoundRead
'Tis not need we know our every thought Or see the work shop where each mask is wrought Wherefrom we view the world of box and pit, Careless of wear, just so the mask shall fit And serve our jape's turn for a night or two.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the idea that we don't need to understand all our thoughts or the processes behind our actions, as long as we can present ourselves effectively to the world.
Ezra Pound's quote delves into the notion that self-awareness isn't always necessary for functioning in society. The 'mask' symbolizes the roles we play in life, suggesting that our presentation to the world can often be more important than our internal struggles or thoughts. It highlights the transient nature of our identity, implying that we can effectively engage with others by simply ensuring that our outward persona aligns with situational demands, even if we remain oblivious to the deeper workings of our psyche.
Themes
IdentitySelf-AwarenessPresentationPsychologyRoles
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about personal branding, one might say, 'As Pound reflects, we can present ourselves effectively without knowing our every thought.'
More from Ezra Pound
All quotes →The ant's a centaur in his dragon world. Pull down thy vanity, it is not man Made courage, or made order, or made grace, Pull down thy vanity, I say pull down. Learn of the green world what can be thy place In scaled invention or true artistry, Pull down thy vanity, Paquin pull down! The green casque has outdone your elegance.
Ezra PoundRead
I desired my dust to be mingled with yours Forever and forever and forever.
Ezra PoundRead
Literature does not exist in a vacuum. Writers as such have a definite social function exactly proportional to their ability as writers. This is their main use.
Ezra PoundRead
In our time, the curse is monetary illiteracy, just as inability to read plain print was the curse of earlier centuries.
Ezra PoundRead
The modern artist must live by craft and violence. His gods are violent gods. Those artists, so called, whose work does not show this strife, are uninteresting.
Ezra PoundRead
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