The poet enjoys the incomparable privilege of being able to be himself and others, as he wishes.

Quote by Charles Baudelaire

Topics: Charles Baudelaire Quotes

God is the only being who, in order to reign, doesn't even need to exist.

God is the only being who, in order to reign, doesn't even need to exist.

Our religion is itself profoundly sad - a religion of universal anguish, and one which,...

Our religion is itself profoundly sad - a religion of universal anguish, and one which,...

The study of beauty is a duel in which the artist cries with terror before...

The study of beauty is a duel in which the artist cries with terror before...

Even in the centuries which appear to us to be the most monstrous and foolish,...

Even in the centuries which appear to us to be the most monstrous and foolish,...

Modernity signifies the transitory, the fugitive, the contingent, the half of art of which the...

Modernity signifies the transitory, the fugitive, the contingent, the half of art of which the...

I can barely conceive of a type of beauty in which there is no Melancholy.

I can barely conceive of a type of beauty in which there is no Melancholy.

There is no such thing as a long piece of work, except one that you...

There is no such thing as a long piece of work, except one that you...

The life of our city is rich in poetic and marvelous subjects. We are enveloped...

The life of our city is rich in poetic and marvelous subjects. We are enveloped...

Nature is a temple in which living columns sometimes emit confused words. Man approaches it...

Nature is a temple in which living columns sometimes emit confused words. Man approaches it...

Genius is childhood recalled at will.

Genius is childhood recalled at will.

What is art? Prostitution.

What is art? Prostitution.

It is from the womb of art that criticism was born.

It is from the womb of art that criticism was born.

Everything that is beautiful and noble is the product of reason and calculation.

Everything that is beautiful and noble is the product of reason and calculation.

Poetry and progress are like two ambitious men who hate one another with an instinctive...

Poetry and progress are like two ambitious men who hate one another with an instinctive...

France is not poetic; she even feels, in fact, a congenital horror of poetry. Among...

France is not poetic; she even feels, in fact, a congenital horror of poetry. Among...

I consider it useless and tedious to represent what exists, because nothing that exists satisfies...

I consider it useless and tedious to represent what exists, because nothing that exists satisfies...

Nothing can be done except little by little.

Nothing can be done except little by little.

As a small child, I felt in my heart two contradictory feelings, the horror of...

As a small child, I felt in my heart two contradictory feelings, the horror of...

Any healthy man can go without food for two days - but not without poetry.

Any healthy man can go without food for two days - but not without poetry.

There is no more steely barb than that of the Infinite.

There is no more steely barb than that of the Infinite.