Beast Quote by Wallace Stevens
““Poetry Is a Destructive Force" That's what misery is, Nothing to have at heart. It is to have or nothing. It is a thing to have, A lion, an ox in his breast, To feel it breathing there. Corazon, stout dog, Young ox, bow-legged bear, He tastes its blood, not spit. He is like a man In the body of a violent beast. Its muscles are his own . . . The lion sleeps in the sun. Its nose is on its paws. It can kill a man.””
About This Quote
Source Poetry: "Poetry Is a Destructive Force" (essay)
The passage likens poetry to a fierce, animalistic force that both creates and destroys, embodying raw emotion and power.
In simple terms: Poetry is a powerful, animal‑like force that can be both creative and destructive.
Key Takeaway
Channel intense emotion through poetic expression.
Themes
creativity
destruction
emotion
Mood
intense
reflective
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- art criticism
- personal reflection
- educational lectures
Key Concepts
literature
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the animal imagery suggest about poetry?
- How can destructive creativity be harnessed?
A Different Perspective
May be too intense for casual readers.
![“No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb [Earth] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic beasts.” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d65/olaf-stapledon-9950_angel_no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-anoth_12107.jpg)
