Books Quote by Tristan Tzara
““There is a literature that does not reach the voracious mass. It is the work of creators, issued from a real necessity in the author, produced for himself. It expresses the knowledge of a supreme egoism, in which laws wither away. Every page must explode, either by profound heavy seriousness, the whirlwind, poetic frenzy, the new, the eternal, the crushing joke, enthusiasm for principles, or by the way in which it is printed. On the one hand a tottering world in flight, betrothed to the glockenspiel of hell, on the other hand: new men. Rough, bouncing, riding on hiccups. Behind them a crippled world and literary quacks with a mania for improvement.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Manifesto of Dada, 1918
The quote celebrates radical, self‑directed creation that rejects popular taste, emphasizing personal necessity, egoism, and extreme artistic expression.
In simple terms: Art for the artist’s own need, not the masses.
Key Takeaway
Create authentically, regardless of audience.
Themes
art
egoism
radicalism
creativity
subversion
Mood
defiant
intense
revolutionary
Type
manifesto
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal writing
- experimental poetry
- performance art
- literary criticism
- cultural rebellion
Key Concepts
Dadaism
egoism
avant‑garde
nihilism
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives you to create beyond approval?
- How does egoism shape artistic value?
A Different Perspective
May alienate readers and limit broader impact.
