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Music Quote by Plato

“And I think that you must have observed again and again what a poor appearance the tales of poets make when stripped of the colours which music puts upon them, and recited in simple prose.” quote by Plato
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““And I think that you must have observed again and again what a poor appearance the tales of poets make when stripped of the colours which music puts upon them, and recited in simple prose.””

Plato

About This Quote

Source Dialogue: Phaedrus, 370 BC

Plato critiques how stripping poetry of musical color reduces its vividness, suggesting prose lacks the richness of poetic expression.

In simple terms: Poetry loses impact without musical elements.

Key Takeaway

Preserve artistic elements to maintain depth.

Themes

art poetry music expression literary criticism

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

philosophical literary

When to use this quote

  • literature education
  • creative writing workshops
  • art criticism

Key Concepts

aesthetic theory symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does music enhance poetic meaning?
  • Can prose achieve similar emotional depth?
A Different Perspective

Prose can convey meaning without music.

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