Commonplace Quote by Kenneth Rexroth
“It is a commonplace that Racine is untranslatable. This is not because his verse is difficult, but because it is not.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Untranslatability of Racine", 1955
Racine's verse seems untranslatable not because of difficulty, but because it resists translation.
In simple terms: Racine's poetry resists translation.
Key Takeaway
Appreciate the limits of translation.
Themes
language
translation
poetry
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading foreign poetry
- teaching literature
- cross‑cultural communication
Key Concepts
untranslatability
literary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do some texts resist translation?
- What is lost in translation?
A Different Perspective
Some works lose nuance when translated.
![“the best of Cervantes is untranslatable, and this undeniable fact is in itself an incentive [for one and all] to learn Spanish.” quote by Aubrey F.G. Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b27/aubrey-f-g-bell-221404_cervantes_the-best-of-cervantes-is-untranslatable_1441605.jpg)
