An understanding of Sor Juana's work must include an understanding of the prohibitions her work confronts. Her speech leads us to what cannot be said, what cannot be said to an orthodoxy, the orthodoxy to a tribunal, and the tribunal to a sentence. Octavio Paz confrontincludejuana share on social
If contemporary artists sincerely seek to be original, unique, and new, they should begin by disregarding the notions of originality, individuality, and innovation: they are the cliches of our time. Octavio Paz artistbegincliche Change image and share on social
We twentieth-century Mexicans, even those of pure Indian descent, look on the pre-Columbian world as a world on the other side, not only distant in time but across the cultural divide. Octavio Paz centurycolumbiancultural Change image and share on social
Literature is the expression of a feeling of deprivation, a recourse against a sense of something missing. But the contrary is also true: language is what makes us human. It is a recourse against the meaningless noise and silence of nature and history. Octavio Paz contrarydeprivationexpression share on social
Art for Duchamp, all the arts, obey the same law: meta-irony is inherent in their very spirit. It is an irony that destroys its own negation and, hence, returns in the affirmative. Octavio Paz affirmativeartdestroy Change image and share on social
Poetry is the experience of liberty. The poet risks himself, chances all on the poem's all with each verse he writes. Octavio Paz chanceexperienceliberty Change image and share on social
The American War of Independence is the expulsion of the intrusive elements, alien to the American essence. If American reality is the reinvention of itself, whatever is found in any way irreducible or unassimilable is not American. Octavio Paz alienamericanelement share on social
Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone. Octavio Paz conditionfacthuman Change image and share on social
Social criticism begins with grammar and the re-establishing of meanings. Octavio Paz begincriticismestablish Change image and share on social
Even though the society that Marx foresaw is far from being an historical reality, Marxism has penetrated so deeply in history that we are all Marxists, one way or another, even unknowingly. Octavio Paz deeplyforeseehistorical Change image and share on social