We agree in principle. That's clear. But take The opposing law and make a peristyle, And from the peristyle project a masque Beyond the planets. Thus, our bawdiness, Unpurged by epitaph, indulged at last, Is equally converted into palms, Squiggling like saxophones. And palm for palm, Madame, we are where we began.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- This excerpt describes a complex dance between opposing principles and indulgence.
- In plain terms
- It suggests that even our flaws and desires can be transformed into art or ritual.
- What can you take from it?
- Conflict and indulgence create cultural forms.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we refine our flaws?
- Is indulgence a creative act?
Another view
The imagery is obscure and hard to apply directly.
More from Wallace Stevens
Poetry is the supreme fiction, madame. Take the moral law and make a nave of it And from the nave build haunted heaven. Thus, The conscience is converted into …
Permalink to quote #9 This will make widows wince. But fictive things Wink as they will. Wink most when widows wince.
Permalink to quote #11 The day of the sun is like the day of a king. It is a promenade in the morning, a sitting on the throne at noon, a pageant in the evening.
Permalink to quote #8
Related quotes
In Italy, for thirty years under the Borgias, they had warfare, terror, murder and bloodshed - they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci and the Renaissanc…
Orson WellesOrson Welles quote #2 'Bring it up, bring it down till you hit the ground, Get a rude attitude, turn the world around, Shall we see, shall we disagree, Sing it all In The Name of Tr…
Lemmy KilmisterLemmy Kilmister quote #12 Firebugs dragging their gasoline bottles Are approaching the Academy of Arts, with a grin. And so, instead of embracing them, Let us demand the freedom of the …
Bertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht quote #15