Artaud Quote by Andrew Solomon
“Antonin Artaud wrote on one of his drawings, "Never real and always true," and that is how depression feels. You know that it is not real, that you are someone else, and yet you know that it is absolutely true.”
About This Quote
Depression creates a paradox where the experience feels unreal yet undeniably authentic, highlighting the dissonance between perception and emotional truth.
In simple terms: Depression is both unreal and true.
Key Takeaway
Emotional reality can contradict logical reality.
Themes
psychology
mental health
paradox
subjectivity
existentialism
Mood
melancholy
reflective
Type
aphor
personal observation
When to use this quote
- clinical therapy
- personal journaling
- support group discussions
- psychoeducational workshops
Key Concepts
identity
perception
authenticity
Practical Applications
- psychotherapy
- mental health awareness campaigns
Questions to Reflect On
- How does acknowledging the truth of an emotion affect coping?
- What role does perception play in mental health?
![“[Nietzsche's] definition of cruelty informs Artaud's own, declaring that all art embodies and intensifies the underlying brutalities of life to recreate the thrill of experience ... Although Artaud did not formally cite Nietzsche, [their writing] contains a familiar persuasive authority, a similar…” quote by Antonin Artaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f93/antonin-artaud-3802_adventure_nietzsche-s-definition-of-cruelty-inform_2318694.jpg)
