Stéphane Mallarmé quotes

We do not write poems with ideas, but with words. (Stéphane Mallarmé)
Every soul is a melody which needs renewing. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
The pure work implies the disappearance of the poet as speaker, who hands over to the words. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
It is in front of the paper that the artist creates himself. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
The poetic act consists in suddenly seeing that an idea splits into a number of motives of equal value and in grouping them; they rhyme. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
The flesh is sorrowful, alas! And I've read all the books. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
In a museum in London there is an exhibit called "The Value of Man": a long coffinlike box with lots of compartments where they've put starch-phosphorus-flour-bottles of water and alcohol-and big pieces of gelatin. I am a man like that. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
A throw of the dice will never abolish chance. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
The world was made in order to result in a beautiful book. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
All alone I gave Myself for triumph the ideal sin of roses. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
Etna! 'tis amid you, visited by Venus On your lava fields placing her candid feet, When a sad stillness thunders wherein the flame dies. I hold the queen! (Stéphane Mallarmé)
Magical shadow with symbolic powers! A voice from the distant past, an evocation, Is it not mine prepared for incantation? View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
I, proud of my rumour, for long I will talk Of goddesses; and by picturings idolatrous, From their shades unloose yet more of their girdles: So when of grapes the clearness I've sucked, To banish regret by my ruse disavowed, Laughing, I lift the empty bunch to the sky, Blowing into its luminous skins and athirst To be drunk, till the evening I keep looking through. Oh nymphs, we diverse MEMORIES refill. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
My breast, though proofless, still attests a bite Mysterious, due to some august tooth; But enough! for confidant such mystery chose The great double reed which one plays 'neath the blue. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
In reading, a lonely quiet concert is given to our minds; all our mental faculties will be present in this symphonic exaltation. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
Inert, all burns in the fierce hour. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
The sun as it's halted Miraculously exalted Resumes its descent Incandescent. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
No more, I must sleep, forgetting the outrage, On the thirsty sand lying, and as I delight Open my mouth to wine's potent star! Adieu, both! I shall see the shade you became. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
Ah well, towards happiness others will lead me With their tresses knotted to the horns of my brow: You know, my passion, that purple and just ripe, The pomegranates burst and murmur with bees; And our blood, aflame for her who will take it, Flows for all the eternal swarm of desire. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
Away with those perfumes that do me harm! I hate them, nurse, and would you have me feel Their drunken vapors make my senses reel? View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
These nymphs I would perpetuate. So clear Their light carnation, that it floats in the air Heavy with tufted slumbers. Was it a dream I loved? (Stéphane Mallarmé)
Then shall I awake to the primitive fervour, Straight and alone, 'neath antique floods of light, Lilies and one of you all through my ingenuousness. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
O Spirit of litigation, know, When we keep silent in this season, The stem of multiple lilies grew Too large to be contained by reason. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
The work of pure poetry implies the elocutionary disappearance of the poet, who yields the initiative to words. View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé
Are you a living princess or her shadow? Let me kiss your fingers and their rings, and bid you Walk no longer in an unknown age... View quote
Stéphane Mallarmé