For the purposes of poetry a convincing impossibility is preferable to an unconvincing possibility. (1461b11)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- In poetry, an impossible event that feels believable is better than a possible event that feels unbelievable.
- In plain terms
- Believable impossibility beats unbelievable possibility in poetry.
- What can you take from it?
- Plausibility matters more than literal truth in art.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When is truth less important than belief?
Another view
It may justify ignoring facts in nonfiction contexts.
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