Octavio Paz Quotes

A collection of quotes by Octavio Paz.

Octavio Paz was a renowned Mexican poet, essayist, and diplomat, born on March 31, 1914, in Mexico City. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, known for his profound and complex philosophical reflections on art, culture, and identity.

Paz's literary career flourished with his first collection of poetry, "Luna Silvestre," published in 1933. Throughout his life, he continued to produce an impressive body of work, including numerous poetry collections such as "Libertad bajo palabra" (Freedom on Words) and "Piedra de sol" (Sunstone), which established him as a leading figure in Latin American literature. His poems often explore themes of love, solitude, and the essence of human existence.

In addition to his poetic contributions, Paz delved into essay writing, critically analyzing various aspects of Mexican society and politics. His notable essays, including "El laberinto de la soledad" (The Labyrinth of Solitude), deeply reflect on Mexican identity, history, and the struggles faced by his countrymen.

Beyond his literary pursuits, Paz served as a diplomat, representing Mexico in various international forums. He held ambassadorial posts in India and several Latin American countries, earning a reputation as a thoughtful and articulate spokesperson for his nation.

Octavio Paz was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990. His work continues to inspire and provoke contemplation, making him an enduring figure in Mexican and global literature. Paz passed away on April 19, 1998, leaving behind a rich legacy of words and ideas.

To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes to hear it is to

To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes to hear it is to see it with our ears.

Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an inven

Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an invention of philosophers... What we call art is a game.

To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes; to hear it is to

To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes; to hear it is to see it with our ears.

Love is an attempt at penetrating another being, but it can

Love is an attempt at penetrating another being, but it can only succeed if the surrender is mutual.

Technology is not an image of the world but a way of operati

Technology is not an image of the world but a way of operating on reality. The nihilism of technology lies not only in the fact that it is the most perfect expression of the will to power... but also in the fact that it lacks meaning.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dial

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two.

We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit.

We are condemned to kill time, thus we die bit by bit.

Modern man likes to pretend that his thinking is wide-awake.

Modern man likes to pretend that his thinking is wide-awake. But this wide-awake thinking has led us into the mazes of a nightmare in which the torture chambers are endlessly repeated in the mirrors of reason.

Social criticism begins with grammar and the re-establishing

Social criticism begins with grammar and the re-establishing of meanings.

Writers, you know, are the beggars of Western society.

Writers, you know, are the beggars of Western society.

Authors & Writing

If we are a metaphor of the universe, the human couple is th

If we are a metaphor of the universe, the human couple is the metaphor par excellence, the point of intersection of all forces and the seed of all forms. The couple is time recaptured, the return to the time before time.

What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is

What distinguishes modern art from the art of other ages is criticism.

Literature is the expression of a feeling of deprivation, a

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.

Man, even man debased by the neocapitalism and pseudosociali

Man, even man debased by the neocapitalism and pseudosocialism of our time, is a marvelous being because he sometimes speaks. Language is the mark, the sign, not of his fall but of his original innocence. Through the Word we may regain the lost kingdom and recover powers we possessed in the far-distant past.

Today we all speak, if not the same tongue, the same univers

Today we all speak, if not the same tongue, the same universal language. There is no one center, and time has lost its former coherence: East and West, yesterday and tomorrow exist as a confused jumble in each one of us. Different times and different spaces are combined in a here and now that is everywhere at once.

Modern Modernism

Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an inven

Art is an invention of aesthetics, which in turn is an invention of philosophers. What we call art is a game.

Man does not speak because he thinks; he thinks because he s

Man does not speak because he thinks; he thinks because he speaks. Or rather, speaking is no different than thinking: to speak is to think.

The North American system only wants to consider the positiv

The North American system only wants to consider the positive aspects of reality. Men and women are subjected from childhood to an inexorable process of adaptation; certain principles, contained in brief formulas are endlessly repeated by the Press, the radio, the churches, and the schools, and by those kindly, sinister beings, the North American mothers and wives. A person imprisoned by these schemes is like a plant in a flowerpot too small for it: he cannot grow or mature.

Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man

Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone.