The ear disapproves but tolerates certain musical pieces; transfer them into the domain of our nose, and we will be forced to flee.
Jean CocteauRead
When we awake it is the animal, the plant, that thinks in us. Primitive thought without the least disguise. We see a terrible universe, because we see clearly. A little later, intelligence introduces its impeding contrivances. It brings the little toys which man invents in order to hide the void. It is then that we think we are seeing clearly. We attribute our uneasiness to the miasmas of the brain as it passes from dream to reality.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the contrast between primal instincts and the artificial complexities humans create in their understanding of reality.
Jean Cocteau's quote delves into the duality of human consciousness, suggesting that our initial, unfiltered perception of the universe is rooted in primal instinct and raw awareness. As we transition from the dreamlike state of sleep to wakefulness, our inherent unease stems not from the world itself, but from the artificial constructs and distractions we create through our intelligence, which ultimately obscure our true understanding of existence.
Themes
AwarenessIntelligenceExistencePrimalRealityUnease
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be referenced in a philosophical debate about the nature of consciousness.
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Watch yourself all your life in a mirror and you'll see Death at work like bees in a glass hive.
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