Alfred Jarry Quotes

A collection of quotes by Alfred Jarry.

Alfred Jarry (1873-1907) was a French writer and playwright, best known for his absurdist works. Born in Laval, France, Jarry began writing poetry and plays from a young age. He came to prominence with the publication of his most famous play, "Ubu Roi" (1896), often considered a precursor to the Theatre of the Absurd.

Jarry's works were characterized by their subversion of traditional storytelling and language, embracing nonsensical humor and surrealism. He was a key figure in the avant-garde art movements of his time, influencing artists like Marcel Duchamp and the Dadaists. Jarry's unconventional lifestyle, marked by alcoholism and eccentric behavior, further contributed to his cult status.

Apart from his plays, Jarry also dabbled in journalism and wrote essays on various topics, including science and politics. He was a self-proclaimed pataphysician, a concept he invented that humorously explores imaginary truths beyond metaphysics.

Sadly, Jarry's life was plagued by financial hardships and health issues. He passed away from tuberculosis at the age of 34, leaving behind a small but influential body of work that continues to inspire and challenge conventions in literature and art to this day.

It is conventional to call 'monster' any blending of dissona

It is conventional to call 'monster' any blending of dissonant elements. I call 'monster' every original inexhaustible beauty.

To keep up even a worthwhile tradition means vitiating the i

To keep up even a worthwhile tradition means vitiating the idea behind it which must necessarily be in a constant state of evolution: it is mad to try to express new feelings in a mummified form.

The theater, bringing impersonal masks to life, is only for

The theater, bringing impersonal masks to life, is only for those who are virile enough to create new life: either as a conflict of passions subtler than those we already know, or as a complete new character.

It is conventional to call monster any blending of dissonant

It is conventional to call monster any blending of dissonant elements. I call monster every original inexhaustible beauty.

God is the tangential point between zero and infinity.

God is the tangential point between zero and infinity.

You're looking exceptionally ugly tonight, Madam, is it beca

You're looking exceptionally ugly tonight, Madam, is it because we have company?

We shall not have succeeded in demolishing everything unless

We shall not have succeeded in demolishing everything unless we demolish the ruins as well. But the only way I can see of doing that is to use them to put up a lot of fine, well-designed buildings.

The virtue of dress rehearsals is that they are a free show

The virtue of dress rehearsals is that they are a free show for a select group of artists and friends of the author, and where for one unique evening the audience is almost expurgated of idiots.

Blind and unwavering undisciplined at all times constitutes

Blind and unwavering undisciplined at all times constitutes the real strength of all free men.

It is because the public are a mass -- inert, obtuse, and pa

It is because the public are a mass -- inert, obtuse, and passive -- that they need to be shaken up from time to time so that we can tell from their bear-like grunts where they are -- and also where they stand. They are pretty harmless, in spite of their numbers, because they are fighting against intelligence.

We believe that the applause of silence is the only kind tha

We believe that the applause of silence is the only kind that counts.