He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short.
Francesco GuicciardiniRead
I write a manifesto and I want nothing, yet I say certain things, and in principle I am against manifestoes, as I am also against principles.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects a paradox of expressing beliefs while simultaneously rejecting the rigidity of manifestoes and principles.
Tristan Tzara's quote encapsulates the complexity of artistic expression and the inherent contradictions in the act of defining principles. By stating he writes a manifesto yet professing his opposition to both manifestoes and principles, he highlights the tension between the desire to convey one’s thoughts and the limitations that come with imposing rigid structures on those thoughts. This suggests that true expression must embrace ambiguity and the fluid nature of ideas.
Themes
ManifestoPrinciplesArtExpressionContradiction
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the nature of art, this quote can be used to illustrate the complexity of artistic expression.
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