Poetry, it is often said and loudly so, is life's true mirror. But a monkey looking into a work of literature looks in vain for Socrates.

Summary

This quote challenges the perception that poetry completely reflects and represents life. While poetry is often regarded as a mirror of life, it satirically argues that a monkey, representing simplicity and lack of intellectual understanding, cannot find deep philosophical figures like Socrates in poetry. This suggests that poetry may not capture the entirety of life or encompass profound philosophical ideas, highlighting the limitations and subjective nature of artistic expression.

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