Books Quote by Augusto Monterroso
““What an incredible amount of poetry, of novels, of sociological solutions to the ills of the world! One supposes that poetry is written to enrich the spirit; that novels have been conceived at the very least, to entertain us; and even, optimistically, that sociological solutions are a guide to solving something. Viewing the situation calmly, I realized that the first (poetry) was capable of impoverishing the richest spirit, the second of boring the most joyful, the third of confusing the most lucid.””
About This Quote
Source Essay or literary criticism
Critiques how poetry, novels, and sociology can each fail their intended purpose, potentially impoverishing, boring, or confusing audiences.
In simple terms: Art can miss its intended impact.
Key Takeaway
Critically assess artistic purpose.
Themes
literature
poetry
novels
sociology
purpose
critique
Mood
analytical
skeptical
thoughtful
Type
Books:1
Poetry:1
Religion:0
Poetry Written:0
Realized Poetry:0
Poetry Novels:0
Novels Sociological:0
Sociological Solutions:0
When to use this quote
- academic critique
- creative writing
- philosophical debate
Key Concepts
artistic intent
audience reception
intellectual engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes art successful?
- When does critique become dismissal?
A Different Perspective
Not all works aim to enlighten; some aim to entertain.
![“I read the text; and then I come to the Shirat ha-Yam, to the Song of the Sea [Exodus 15], to the poetry. Who could have written such a poem except someone who went through it? It is so full of life, so full of truth, of passion, of concern. And the thousands and thousands of commentaries in the…” quote by Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/590/elie-wiesel-341_attributes_i-read-the-text-and-then-i-come-to-the-s_340239.jpg)
