Author: Octavio Paz

Quotes

Surrealism is not a poetry but a poetics, and even more, and more decisively, a world vision.

Surrealism is not a poetry but a poetics, and even more, and more decisively, a world vision.

- Octavio Paz

In each verse, a decision awaits us, and we can't choose to close our eyes and let instinct work on its own. Poetic instinct consists of an alert tension.

In each verse, a decision awaits us, and we can't choose to close our eyes and let instinct work on its own. Poetic instinct consists of an alert tension.

- Octavio Paz

Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone.

Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone.

- Octavio Paz

What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.

What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.

- Octavio Paz

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.

- Octavio Paz

A society is defined as much by how it comes to terms with its past as by its attitude toward the future: its memories are no less revealing than its aims.

A society is defined as much by how it comes to terms with its past as by its attitude toward the future: its memories are no less revealing than its aims.

- Octavio Paz

Self-discovery is above all the realization that we are alone: it is the opening of an impalpable, transparent wall - that of our consciousness - between the world and ourselves.

Self-discovery is above all the realization that we are alone: it is the opening of an impalpable, transparent wall - that of our consciousness - between the world and ourselves.

- Octavio Paz

We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit.

We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit.

- Octavio Paz

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