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
I sit in the sky like a sphinx misunderstood; My heart of snow is wed to the whiteness of swans; I hate the movement that displaces the rigid lines, With lips untaught neither tears nor laughter do I know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker expresses feelings of isolation and misunderstanding, with a deep emotional contrast to their external appearance.
In this quote, Charles Baudelaire explores themes of isolation and emotional detachment. The imagery of sitting in the sky like a sphinx suggests a sense of height and detachment from the world below, while the heart of snow symbolizes a cold, unyielding emotional state. The contrast of rigid lines and movement reflects a conflict between stability and change, indicating a struggle with expressing emotions, as the speaker conveys an inability to feel typical human responses such as tears or laughter.
Themes
IsolationEmotionsUnderstandingDetachmentColdness
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the struggles of being misunderstood in relationships, this quote perfectly encapsulates the feeling of emotional detachment.
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.
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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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