“We need few words to express what is essential; we need all the words to make it real.”

Original: Il nous faut peu de mots pour exprimer l’essentiel; il nous faut tous les mots pour le rendre réel. — The remark distinguishes between expressing an essential idea and giving that idea full reality through language. · Avenir de la poésie, 1937 (French)

• Language
• Poetry
• Words

“The poet is one who inspires far more than one who is inspired.”

Original: Le poète est celui qui inspire bien plus que celui qui est inspiré. — Éluard reverses the traditional image of the inspired poet, emphasising poetry's power to awaken something in others. · Preface to Ralentir travaux, 1930 (French)

• Art
• Inspiration
• Poetry