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
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 →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.
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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