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
Human writing reflects that of the universe; it is its translation, but also its metaphor: it says something totally different, and it says the same thing. Octavio Paz humanmetaphorreflect Change image and share on social
A society is defined as much by how it comes to terms with its past as by its attitude toward the future: its memories are no less revealing than its aims. Octavio Paz aimattitudedefine Change image and share on social
Literatures, like trees and plants, are born of a land and in it flourish and die. But literatures, also like plants, may be carried abroad to take root in a foreign soil. Octavio Paz abroadbearcarry Change image and share on social
Surrealism is not a poetry but a poetics, and even more, and more decisively, a world vision. Octavio Paz decisivelypoeticpoetry Change image and share on social
Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. A constant coming and going: wisdom lies in the momentary. Octavio Paz changecomeconstant Change image and share on social
The Mexican succumbs very easily to sentimental effusions, and therefore he shuns them. Octavio Paz easilyeffusionmexican Change image and share on social
No one is alone, and each change here brings about another change there. Octavio Paz bringchange Change image and share on social
We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit. Octavio Paz bitecondemndie Change image and share on social
Man is alone everywhere. But the solitude of the Mexican, under the great stone night of the high plateau that is still inhabited by insatiable gods, is very different from that of the North American, who wanders in an abstract world of machines, fellow citizens and moral precepts. Octavio Paz abstractamericancitizen share on social
