Guillaume Apollinaire quotes

Guillaume Apollinaire was a French poet, playwright, and art critic, regarded as one of the most influential literary figures of the early 20th century. His innovative works helped shape both the Surrealist and Cubist movements in art and literature. He introduced new forms and styles, and he is remembered for his creativity and bold experimentation. Here are 38 of his quotes:

How slow life is, how violent hope is.

Guillaume Apollinaire

People quickly grow accustomed to being the slaves of mystery.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Joy always came after pain.

Guillaume Apollinaire

One day One day I waited for myself I said to myself Guillaume it's time you came So I could know just who I am I who know others.

Guillaume Apollinaire

When man resolved to imitate walking, he invented the wheel, which does not look like a leg. In doing this, he was practicing surrealism without knowing it.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Artists are, above all, men who want to become inhuman.

Guillaume Apollinaire

A structure becomes architectural, and not sculptural, when its elements no longer have their justification in nature.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Geometry is to the plastic arts what grammar is to the art of the writer.

Guillaume Apollinaire

I love men, not for what unites them, but for what divides them, and I want to know most of all what gnaws at their hearts.

Guillaume Apollinaire

And the single string of the marine trumpets.

Guillaume Apollinaire

I used to walk by the river An old book under my arm The river is the same as pain It elapses mindlessly And when will the week be over.

Guillaume Apollinaire

At last you're tired of this elderly world Shepherdess O Eiffel Tower this morning the bridges are bleating You're fed up living with antiquity.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Under Mirabeau Bridge flows the Seine. Why must I be reminded again Of our love? Doesn't happiness issue from pain? Bring on the night, ring out the hour. The days wear on but I endure.

Guillaume Apollinaire

We hurry since everything hurries And I shall never not return Memories are all archaic horns Silenced by the wind.

Guillaume Apollinaire

And now comes the summer of violence And my youth is as dead as the springtime O Sun it is the time of fiery Reason.

Guillaume Apollinaire

O mouths humanity seeks a new language Beyond the reach of grammarians.

Guillaume Apollinaire

The poems I am writing at the moment will be much closer to your present way of thinking. I am trying to renew poetic style, but within a classical framework. On the other hand, I don't want to lapse into imitating others. Letter to Picasso 1918.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Nor days nor any time detain. Time past or any love Cannot come again.

Guillaume Apollinaire

And love runs down like this Water, love runs down. How slow life is, How violent hope is.

Guillaume Apollinaire

Without poets, without artists, men would soon weary of nature's monotony.

Guillaume Apollinaire

It's raining my soul, it's raining, but it's raining dead eyes.

Guillaume Apollinaire

From this new alliance – for until now costume and scenery on one hand, choreography on the other, have been linked only artificially – there has resulted in Parade a kind of sur-réalisme.

Guillaume Apollinaire