Decadence Quote by Paul Verlaine
““I like the word ‘decadent,’ all shimmering with purple and gold … it throws out the brilliance of flames and the gleam of precious stones. It is made up of carnal spirit and unhappy flesh and of all the violent splendors of the Lower Empire; it conjures up the paint of the courtesans, the sports of the circus, the breath of the tamers of animals, the bounding of wild beasts, the collapse among the flames of races exhausted by the power of feeling, to the invading sound of enemy trumpets. The decadence is Sardanapalus lighting the fire in the midst of his women, it is Seneca declaiming poetry as he opens his veins, it is Petronius masking his agony with flowers.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “Romances sans paroles” (1884) by Paul Verlaine
The quote glorifies decadent, sensual excess, linking art, desire, and violent beauty to a chaotic, intoxicating experience.
In simple terms: Decadence is vivid, sensual chaos.
Key Takeaway
Embrace intense feeling, beware excess.
Themes
sensuality
excess
art
chaos
desire
Mood
intense
dramatic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
descriptive
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- literary analysis
- creative writing
- performance art
- theatrical design
Key Concepts
decadence
aestheticism
romanticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does decadence reveal about human longing?
- How can one balance beauty with restraint?
A Different Perspective
May overwhelm and alienate; can lead to moral decay.
