To be ultra is to go beyond. It is to attack the sceptre…
““To be ultra is to go beyond. It is to attack the sceptre in the name of the throne, and the mitre in the name of the attar; it is to ill-treat the thing which one is dragging, it is to kick over the traces; it is to cavil at the fagot on the score of the amount of cooking received by heretics; it is to reproach the idol with its small amount of idolatry; it is to insult through excess of respect; it is to discover that the Pope is not sufficiently papish, that the King is not sufficiently royal, and that the night has too much light; it is to be discontented with alabaster, with snow, with the swan and the lily in the name of whiteness; it is to be a partisan of things to the point of becoming their enemy; it is to be so strongly for, as to be against.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage satirically describes extremism as constantly pushing beyond limits, challenging authority, and rejecting any accepted norm, leading to perpetual dissatisfaction.
In simple terms: Being ultra means always pushing limits and rejecting norms.
Key Takeaway
Question the desire to constantly exceed.
Themes
extremism
rebellion
dissatisfaction
Mood
critical
ironic
Type
philosophical
satirical
When to use this quote
- activism
- art critique
- personal ambition
Key Concepts
philosophy
politics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What limits do you accept?
- When does rebellion become self‑destruction?
A Different Perspective
Constantly seeking to outdo can cause burnout and alienation.