Matter Quote by Bruno Schulz
““Can you understand,' asked my father, 'the deep meaning of that weakness, that passion for colored tissue, for papier-mache, for distemper, for oakum and sawdust? This is,' he continued with a pained smile, 'the proof of our love for matter as such, for its fluffiness or porosity, for its unique mystical consistency. Demiurge, that great master and artist, made matter invisible, made it disappear under the surface of life. We, on the contrary, love its creaking, its resistance, its clumsiness. We like to see behind each gesture, behind each move, its inertia, its heavy effort, its bearlike awkwardness.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Street of Crocodiles, 1934
The quote celebrates a tactile, material love, finding beauty in the imperfect, physical world as a counter to abstract perfection.
In simple terms: Loving the messy, real stuff of life.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the tangible, not just ideas.
Themes
materialism
aesthetic
philosophy
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- interior design
- handcrafts
- philosophical reflection
- creative writing
Key Concepts
tactile appreciation
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does focusing on materiality shape your worldview?
- What value do you find in imperfections?
A Different Perspective
May overlook emotional or spiritual dimensions beyond physicality.
