Quotation by

Charles Baudelaire

Any healthy man can go without food for two days - but not without poetry.

Poetry

Understanding this quote AI Analysis

Baudelaire is saying that while a person can physically survive without eating for a short time, they cannot go even that long without experiencing poetry or its emotional nourishment. He emphasizes that poetry is essential to human well-being in a way that is as vital as food, but on a spiritual or intellectual level.

More by this author

All quotes by Charles Baudelaire →

More quotes about Poetry

See all →

I write poetry in order to live more fully.

He fertilizes a phrase or a line of poetry for weeks and then gives birth to it in a speech.

Poetry uses the hub of a torque converter for a jello mold.

Poetry asks people to have values, form opinions, care about some other part of experience besides making money and being successful on the job.

For there is a sound reasoning upon all flowers. For flowers are peculiarly the poetry of Christ.

I don't know a better preparation for life than a love of poetry and a good digestion.