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Beautiful Quote by William Wordsworth

“I should dread to disfigure the beautiful ideal of the memories of illustrious persons with incongruous features, and to sully the imaginative purity of classical works with gross and trivial recollections.” quote by William Wordsworth
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“I should dread to disfigure the beautiful ideal of the memories of illustrious persons with incongruous features, and to sully the imaginative purity of classical works with gross and trivial recollections.”

William Wordsworth

About This Quote

Source Poem: "The Prelude" by William Wordsworth, 1805

The quote warns against tarnishing cherished memories and classic art with inappropriate, trivial details that corrupt their purity.

In simple terms: Don't ruin beautiful memories with bad details.

Key Takeaway

Preserve the purity of art and memory.

Themes

respect purity memory art integrity

Mood

reflective protective

Type

cautionary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • curating museums
  • editing literature
  • teaching history
  • personal reflection
  • writing memoirs

Key Concepts

aesthetic integrity memory preservation literary criticism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you decide which details are essential?
  • What criteria keep a work authentic?
A Different Perspective

It may be impossible to avoid all minor imperfections in recollection.

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