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
Hypocrite reader my fellow my brother!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote addresses the reader directly, suggesting a relationship of solidarity and shared human flaws such as hypocrisy.
In this quote, Charles Baudelaire presents a provocative invitation to acknowledge our shared imperfections, particularly hypocrisy. By addressing the reader as 'my fellow my brother', he emphasizes a sense of kinship, reminding us that we all face moral contradictions and complexities within ourselves. It calls for a deeper reflection on our own nature and the struggles we share as human beings.
Themes
HypocrisyHuman NatureSelf-ReflectionBrotherhoodPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussion about human nature.
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.
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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.
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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