That which is not slightly distorted lacks sensible appeal; from which it follows that irregularity – that is to say, the unexpected, surprise and astonishment, are a essential part and characteristic of beauty.
Charles BaudelaireRead
France is not poetic; she even feels, in fact, a congenital horror of poetry. Among the writers who use verse, those whom she will always prefer are the most prosaic.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Baudelaire suggests that France has a preference for straightforward expression over poetic sentiment.
In this quote, Charles Baudelaire conveys a sense of irony regarding the French attitude towards poetry and art. He observes that despite being a nation often associated with romanticism and artistic expression, France seems to favor prose and practicality over the emotional and imaginative elements of poetry. This highlights a cultural conflict between the expectations of poetic beauty and the reality of a more grounded literary preference.
Themes
FrancePoetryProseArtLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
In a literary discussion about cultural preferences in art.
More from Charles Baudelaire
All quotes →The 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.
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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.
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There is no sweeter pleasure than to surprise a man by giving him more than he hopes for.
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The priest is an immense being because he makes the crowd believe astonishing things.
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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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