---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having set its mark on the generation…"
description: "\"“Having set its mark on the generation before Cocteau’s, symbolism expressed a form of inner dissidence confronting the narrow-minded materialism and u..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg"
---

#  Having set its mark on the generation before Cocteau’s…

![“Having set its mark on the generation before Cocteau’s, symbolism expressed a form of inner dissidence confronting the narrow-minded materialism and utilitarian obsession of the industrial revolution, and hence a reaction to triumphant naturalism, in literature at least. Nourished by medieval…” quote by Claude Arnaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg)

> ““Having set its mark on the generation before Cocteau’s, symbolism expressed a form of inner dissidence confronting the narrow-minded materialism and utilitarian obsession of the industrial revolution, and hence a reaction to triumphant naturalism, in literature at least. Nourished by medieval, Renaissance, and Romantic art, symbolism, probably the last great backward-looking movement hatched in the West, had given rise to a desire to explore the secrets of the world and the confines of the soul. Beyond its androgynous Mercuries, its pale Narcissuses, and its Orpheuses borne by rosaries of angels, it gave rise to a whole misty alchemy wherein some found their way into esotericism and even into the religious, since the Universe was only the symbol of another world into which entrance was gained not only through poetry, spiritualism, dreams, and the Ideal, but also via the play of analogies and the study of ciphers.””

[Claude Arnaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-arnaud/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Symbolism emerged as a counter‑cultural reaction to industrial materialism, seeking deeper spiritual and esoteric meanings.

**In simple terms:** Symbolism opposed industrial materialism, seeking deeper meaning.

Key Takeaway

Explore inner worlds beyond materialism.

Themes

symbolism art spirituality reaction industrial revolution esotericism

Mood

introspective academic

Type

historical analytical

When to use this quote

- literary analysis
- museum curation
- creative writing workshops

Key Concepts

historical art movements philosophy of aesthetics cultural criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- How does symbolism challenge materialist views?
- What modern art reflects similar dissent?

A Different Perspective

May be too niche for general audiences.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Another world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-world/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Symbolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-symbolism-3782889/) [Cocteau Symbolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cocteau-symbolism-3782888/) [Fin-de-siecle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fin-de-siecle-63976/) [Industrial revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industrial-revolution/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Symbolism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolism/) [Symbolism Expressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolism-expressed-3782890/) [Symbolism Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symbolism-probably-3782891/)

## Related quotes

> [“Even before the First World War there was a strain in European art and music – in Germany more than anywhere – that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-murray/even-before-the-first-world-war-there-was-a-strain-in-european-art/)

[Douglas Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-murray/)

> [“But do you imagine there’s a certain type of person in the world who conforms to the idea of a ‘bad person'? You’ll never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsume-s-seki/but-do-you-imagine-there-s-a-certain-type-of-person-in-the-world-who/)

[Natsume Sōseki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsume-s-seki/)

> [“I used to ask myself, ‘Sergei, would you rather spend your money on drink or women?’ and thanks to the club, I spend it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melika-dannese-lux/i-used-to-ask-myself-sergei-would-you-rather-spend-your-money-on/)

[Melika Dannese Lux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melika-dannese-lux/)

> [“Before we leave the gravesite, Mary sings Mother's favorite gospel hymn ... Mary's lovely voice rises and lingers in the air, and by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-baker-kline/before-we-leave-the-gravesite-mary-sings-mother-s-favorite-gospel/)

[Christina Baker Kline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-baker-kline/)

> [“Trees lose their leaves in blizzards like these.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashly-lorenzana/trees-lose-their-leaves-in-blizzards-like-these/)

[Ashly Lorenzana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashly-lorenzana/)

> [Western people often see obscenity where there is only symbolism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-woodroffe/western-people-often-see-obscenity-where-there-is-only-symbolism/)

[Sir John Woodroffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-john-woodroffe/)

> [“her skilled use of her body, especially her eyes and hands, when communicating with people enabled millions sense she was a conduit between royalty,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-walter/her-skilled-use-of-her-body-especially-her-eyes-and-hands-when/)

[Tony Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-walter/)

> [“our perceptions of the external world are habitually clouded by the verbal notions in terms of which we do our thinking. We are for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/our-perceptions-of-the-external-world-are-habitually-clouded-by-the/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [All ages before ours believed in gods in some form or other. Only an unparalleled impoverishment in symbolism could enable us to rediscover the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/all-ages-before-ours-believed-in-gods-in-some-form-or-other-only-an/)

[Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/)

> [ \[Winning the White House was an achievement\], but as an African-American, \[Barack Obama\], I think the symbolism is in how he conducted himself. The… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/winning-the-white-house-was-an-achievement-but-as-an-african-american/)

[Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/)

> [I grew up watching monster movies and horror movies, which I felt were like fairy tales and I think this always spoke to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-grew-up-watching-monster-movies-and-horror-movies-which-i-felt-were/)

[Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/)

> [“Across the threshold’s sleep she entered in And found herself amid great figures of gods Conscious in stone and living without breath, Watching with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/across-the-threshold-s-sleep-she-entered-in-and-found-herself-amid/)

[Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/)

> [“People think blood red, but blood don't got no colour. Not when blood wash the floor she lying on as she scream for that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-james/people-think-blood-red-but-blood-don-t-got-no-colour-not-when-blood/)

[Marlon James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-james/)

> [“Like symbolism, decadence puts forth the idea that the function of literature is to evoke impressions and 'correspondences', rather than to realistically depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asti-hustvedt/like-symbolism-decadence-puts-forth-the-idea-that-the-function-of/)

[Asti Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asti-hustvedt/)

> [Caught in a racial uproar, people make all sorts of promises to make amends. Whatever they do tends to be heavy on symbolism and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/caught-in-a-racial-uproar-people-make-all-sorts-of-promises-to-make/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

## More Another world quotes

> [I identify with Superman. I am adopted, I am an only child, and I love the idea that he comes from another world, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-singer/i-identify-with-superman-i-am-adopted-i-am-an-only-child-and-i-love/)

[Bryan Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-singer/)

> [Every time you touch me I stop breathing, that's why I never have much to say. Every time I see you, my heart skips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-you-touch-me-i-stop-breathing-that-s-why-i-never-have-much/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/)

[Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/)

> [Remove from the history of the past all those actions which have either sprung directly from the religious nature of man, or been modified…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hopkins/remove-from-the-history-of-the-past-all-those-actions-which-have/)

[Mark Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hopkins/)

> [“Here, in the garden at night, it is another world, strange and yet friendly and familiar, never frightening. There is such quietness, such sweetness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hill/here-in-the-garden-at-night-it-is-another-world-strange-and-yet/)

[Susan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hill/)

> [“A novel is not an allegory...it is a sensual experience of another world. If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-novel-is-not-an-allegory-it-is-a-sensual-experience-of-another/)

[Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/)

> [To try to really land a spacecraft really on another world is really difficult, and if we lose that ability, it's going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/to-try-to-really-land-a-spacecraft-really-on-another-world-is-really/)

[Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/)

> [“Story is a butterfly whose wings transport us to another world where we receive gifts that change who we are and who we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-king/story-is-a-butterfly-whose-wings-transport-us-to-another-world-where/)

[Harley King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-king/)

> [“And it was then that the things I've never liked to talk about began. Not that they were particularly terrible; I've no wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-it-was-then-that-the-things-i-ve-never-liked-to-talk-about-began/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The young man knows that he is irretrievably lost. This is no town of cats, he finally realizes. It is the place where he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-young-man-knows-that-he-is-irretrievably-lost-this-is-no-town-of/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [ \[The Utopia of Rules\] should offer a challenge to us all. Should we just accept this bureaucracy as inevitable? Or is there a way… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-tett/the-utopia-of-rules-should-offer-a-challenge-to-us-all-should-we-just/)

[Gillian Tett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-tett/)

> [We are here to make another world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-edwards-deming/we-are-here-to-make-another-world/)

[W. Edwards Deming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-edwards-deming/)

> [“How often since then has she wondered what might have happened if she'd tried to remain with him; if she’d returned Richard's kiss on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cunningham/how-often-since-then-has-she-wondered-what-might-have-happened-if-she/)

[Michael Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cunningham/)

> [“There is another world and it is in this one. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-eluard/there-is-another-world-and-it-is-in-this-one/)

[Paul Éluard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-eluard/)

> [“One late-autumn day I opened the back door to fetch some water, and there was a young hare sat on my back step. Save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-ansell/one-late-autumn-day-i-opened-the-back-door-to-fetch-some-water-and/)

[Neil Ansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-ansell/)

[Browse all 707 Another world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another-world/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Having set its mark on the generation before Cocteau’s, symbolism expressed a form of inner dissidence confronting the narrow-minded materialism and utilitarian obsession of the industrial revolution, and hence a reaction to triumphant naturalism, in literature at least. Nourished by medieval, Renaissance, and Romantic art, symbolism, probably the last great backward-looking movement hatched in the West, had given rise to a desire to explore the secrets of the world and the confines of the soul. Beyond its androgynous Mercuries, its pale Narcissuses, and its Orpheuses borne by rosaries of angels, it gave rise to a whole misty alchemy wherein some found their way into esotericism and even into the religious, since the Universe was only the symbol of another world into which entrance was gained not only through poetry, spiritualism, dreams, and the Ideal, but also via the play of analogies and the study of ciphers.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Claude Arnaud"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-arnaud/having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-before-cocteau-s-symbolism/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Another world"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-arnaud/having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-before-cocteau-s-symbolism/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/789/claude-arnaud-166495_another-world_having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-be_1227534.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Having set its mark on the generation before Cocteau’s, symbolism expressed a form of inner dissidence…” — Claude Arnaud",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Claude Arnaud",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-arnaud/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Having set its mark on the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-arnaud/having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-before-cocteau-s-symbolism/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-arnaud/having-set-its-mark-on-the-generation-before-cocteau-s-symbolism/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
