Quote #68

Poetry is finer and more philosophical than history; for poetry expresses the universal, and history only the particular. (1451b6)

More from Aristotle

  1. A whole is that which has beginning, middle, and end. (1450b26)
  2. Poetry demands a man with a special gift for it, or else one with a touch of madness in him. (1455a33)
  3. A tragedy, then, is the imitation of an action ... with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emo…
  4. But the greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor. This alone cannot be imparted by another; it is the mark of genius, for to …
  5. Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is sweet and they are growing.
  6. Homer has taught all other poets the art of telling lies skillfully. (1460a19)
  7. With regard to excellence, it is not enough to know, but we must try to have and use it.
  8. For the purposes of poetry a convincing impossibility is preferable to an unconvincing possibility. (1461b11)

All Aristotle quotes