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
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 →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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