“There are those whose purpose in writing is, by means of the noble qualities of heart which their imagination invents or which they themselves may have, to seek the plaudits of other human beings. For my part, I use my genius to depict the delights of cruelty: delights which are not transitory or artificial; but which began with man and will end with him. Cannot genius be allied with cruelty in the secret resolutions of Providence? Or can one, being cruel, not have genius?”

— Comte de Lautréamont , book Les Chants de Maldoror

Les Chants de Maldoror

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Comte de Lautréamont 8

French poet 1846–1870

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Translations, From the French

“My power was but a woman’s power;
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“That charm of genius, triumph of high art;
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Translations, From the French

“I can see that the Lady has a genius for ruling, whilst I have a genius for not being ruled.”

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Source: Sex and Character (1903), p. 106.

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Comte de Lautréamont 8

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