Quote by Basil Bunting

The mystic purchases a moment of exhilaration with a lifetime of confusion; and the confusion is infectious and destructive. It is confusing and destructive to try and explain anything in terms of anything else, poetry in terms of psychology.


The mystic purchases a moment of exhilaration with a lifetim

Summary

This quote suggests that mystics, while seeking moments of exhilaration and spiritual insight, often experience a lifetime of confusion. Furthermore, this confusion can be contagious and harmful, leading to difficulties in understanding and explaining things by connecting them to other disciplines. For instance, attempting to explain poetry using psychological terms may lead to muddled and destructive outcomes. The quote advises against such attempts to simplify or impose a restricted viewpoint, emphasizing the importance of appreciating the mystical experience for what it is rather than reducing it to other frameworks.

By Basil Bunting
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