Stéphane Mallarmé quotes

Stéphane Mallarmé was a French poet and one of the most influential figures of the Symbolist movement. His innovative use of language and form had a profound impact on modern poetry. He inspired generations of writers and artists with his visionary work. Here are 50 of his quotes:

Every soul is a melody which needs renewing.

Stéphane Mallarmé

The pure work implies the disappearance of the poet as speaker, who hands over to the words.

Stéphane Mallarmé

It is in front of the paper that the artist creates himself.

Stéphane Mallarmé

The poetic act consists in suddenly seeing that an idea splits into a number of motives of equal value and in grouping them; they rhyme.

Stéphane Mallarmé

The flesh is sorrowful, alas! And I've read all the books.

Stéphane Mallarmé

In a museum in London there is an exhibit called "The Value of Man": a long coffinlike box with lots of compartments where they've put starch-phosphorus-flour-bottles of water and alcohol-and big pieces of gelatin. I am a man like that.

Stéphane Mallarmé

A throw of the dice will never abolish chance.

Stéphane Mallarmé

The world was made in order to result in a beautiful book.

Stéphane Mallarmé

All alone I gave Myself for triumph the ideal sin of roses.

Stéphane Mallarmé

Magical shadow with symbolic powers! A voice from the distant past, an evocation, Is it not mine prepared for incantation?

Stéphane Mallarmé

I, proud of my rumour, for long I will talk Of goddesses; and by picturings idolatrous, From their shades unloose yet more of their girdles: So when of grapes the clearness I've sucked, To banish regret by my ruse disavowed, Laughing, I lift the empty bunch to the sky, Blowing into its luminous skins and athirst To be drunk, till the evening I keep looking through. Oh nymphs, we diverse MEMORIES refill.

Stéphane Mallarmé

My breast, though proofless, still attests a bite Mysterious, due to some august tooth; But enough! for confidant such mystery chose The great double reed which one plays 'neath the blue.

Stéphane Mallarmé

In reading, a lonely quiet concert is given to our minds; all our mental faculties will be present in this symphonic exaltation.

Stéphane Mallarmé

Inert, all burns in the fierce hour.

Stéphane Mallarmé

The sun as it's halted Miraculously exalted Resumes its descent Incandescent.

Stéphane Mallarmé

No more, I must sleep, forgetting the outrage, On the thirsty sand lying, and as I delight Open my mouth to wine's potent star! Adieu, both! I shall see the shade you became.

Stéphane Mallarmé

Ah well, towards happiness others will lead me With their tresses knotted to the horns of my brow: You know, my passion, that purple and just ripe, The pomegranates burst and murmur with bees; And our blood, aflame for her who will take it, Flows for all the eternal swarm of desire.

Stéphane Mallarmé

Away with those perfumes that do me harm! I hate them, nurse, and would you have me feel Their drunken vapors make my senses reel?

Stéphane Mallarmé

Then shall I awake to the primitive fervour, Straight and alone, 'neath antique floods of light, Lilies and one of you all through my ingenuousness.

Stéphane Mallarmé

O Spirit of litigation, know, When we keep silent in this season, The stem of multiple lilies grew Too large to be contained by reason.

Stéphane Mallarmé

The work of pure poetry implies the elocutionary disappearance of the poet, who yields the initiative to words.

Stéphane Mallarmé

Are you a living princess or her shadow? Let me kiss your fingers and their rings, and bid you Walk no longer in an unknown age...

Stéphane Mallarmé