Great saying by great authors Quote by Wallace Stevens
“The President has apples on the table And barefoot servants round him, who adjust The curtains to a metaphysicalt And the banners of the nationflutter, burst On the flag-poles in a red-blue dazzle, whack At the halyards.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The President” from Harmonium, 1923
The poem juxtaposes the President’s authority with mundane, almost absurd details, highlighting the surreal nature of power.
In simple terms: Power is surrounded by absurdity.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the absurdity in authority.
Themes
power
absurdity
politics
surrealism
Mood
thoughtful
enigmatic
Type
poetic
satirical
When to use this quote
- political satire
- art criticism
- public discourse
Key Concepts
modernism
symbolism
political satire
Questions to Reflect On
- How does surreal imagery affect political perception?
- What does the “red‑blue dazzle” suggest?
A Different Perspective
The imagery may obscure concrete critique.
