“ You see, poetry resembles metaphysics, one does not mind one's own, but one does not like any one else's. ”
Samuel Butler, The Note-Books of Samuel Butler (1912). copy citation
| Author | Samuel Butler |
|---|---|
| Source | The Note-Books of Samuel Butler |
| Topic | poetry metaphysics solipsism |
| Date | 1912 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6173/6173-h/6173-h.htm |
Context
“«No,» I replied, «I don't think we read him very much.»
«But how is that? He is a very pretty poet.»
«Oh yes, but I don't greatly like poetry myself.»
«Why don't you like poetry?»
«You see, poetry resembles metaphysics, one does not mind one's own, but one does not like any one else's.»
«Oh! And what you call metaphysic?»
This was too much. It was like the lady who attributed the decline of the Italian opera to the fact that singers would no longer «podge» their voices.
” source
«But how is that? He is a very pretty poet.»
«Oh yes, but I don't greatly like poetry myself.»
«Why don't you like poetry?»
«You see, poetry resembles metaphysics, one does not mind one's own, but one does not like any one else's.»
«Oh! And what you call metaphysic?»
This was too much. It was like the lady who attributed the decline of the Italian opera to the fact that singers would no longer «podge» their voices.
” source
Meaning and analysis
