Poetry Quote by Pablo Neruda
““Some poems survive it to become poems in another language,” he argued, “but others refuse to live in any language but their own, in which case the translator can manage no more than a reproduction, an effigy, of the original.””
About This Quote
He argues that some poems can be faithfully rendered in another language, while others resist translation, becoming mere copies rather than living works.
In simple terms: Some poems resist translation.
Key Takeaway
Language shapes meaning.
Themes
translation
poetry
linguistics
cultural preservation
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- literary criticism
- translation workshops
- cross‑cultural publishing
Key Concepts
translatability
artistic integrity
Practical Applications
- translation studies
- poetry anthologies
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a poem untranslatable?
- Can a translation ever capture the original's spirit?
