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Surrealist Manifesto wikilivres.ca

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SurrealistManifesto

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Sostrongisthebeliefinlife,inwhatismostfragileinlifereallife,Imean
thatintheendthisbeliefislost.Man,thatinveteratedreamer,dailymore
discontentwithhisdestiny,hastroubleassessingtheobjectshehasbeenled
touse,objectsthathisnonchalancehasbroughthisway,orthathehasearned
throughhisownefforts,almostalwaysthroughhisownefforts,forhehas
agreedtowork,atleasthehasnotrefusedtotryhisluck(orwhathecallshis
luck!).Atthispointhefeelsextremelymodest:heknowswhatwomenhehas
had,whatsillyaffairshehasbeeninvolvedin;heisunimpressedbyhiswealth
orhispoverty,inthisrespectheisstillanewbornbabeand,asfortheapproval
ofhisconscience,Iconfessthathedoesverynicelywithoutit.Ifhestill
retainsacertainlucidity,allhecandoisturnbacktowardhischildhoodwhich,
howeverhisguidesandmentorsmayhavebotchedit,stillstrikeshimas
somehowcharming.There,theabsenceofanyknownrestrictionsallowshim
theperspectiveofseveralliveslivedatonce;thisillusionbecomesfirmly
rootedwithinhim;nowheisonlyinterestedinthefleeting,theextremefacility
ofeverything.Childrensetoffeachdaywithoutaworryintheworld.
Everythingisnearathand,theworstmaterialconditionsarefine.Thewoods
arewhiteorblack,onewillneversleep.

Butitistruethatwewouldnotdareventuresofar,itisnotmerelyaquestion
ofdistance.Threatispileduponthreat,oneyields,abandonsaportionofthe
terraintobeconquered.Thisimaginationwhichknowsnoboundsis
henceforthallowedtobeexercisedonlyinstrictaccordancewiththelawsofan
arbitraryutility;itisincapableofassumingthisinferiorroleforverylongand,
inthevicinityofthetwentiethyear,generallypreferstoabandonmantohis
lusterlessfate.

Thoughhemaylatertrytopullhimselftogetheronoccasion,havingfeltthat
heislosingbyslowdegreesallreasonforliving,incapableashehasbecomeof
beingabletorisetosomeexceptionalsituationsuchaslove,hewillhardly
succeed.Thisisbecausehehenceforthbelongsbodyandsoultoanimperative
practicalnecessitywhichdemandshisconstantattention.Noneofhis
gestureswillbeexpansive,noneofhisideasgenerousorfar-reaching.Inhis
mindseye,eventsrealorimaginedwillbeseenonlyastheyrelatetoawelterof

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similarevents,eventsinwhichhehasnotparticipated,abortiveevents.What
amIsaying:hewilljudgetheminrelationshiptooneoftheseeventswhose
consequencesaremorereassuringthantheothers.Onnoaccountwillheview
themashissalvation.

Belovedimagination,whatImostlikeinyouisyourunsparingquality.

Thereremainsmadness,"themadnessthatonelocksup,"asithasaptlybeen
described.Thatmadnessoranother.Weallknow,infact,thattheinsaneowe
theirincarcerationtoatinynumberoflegallyreprehensibleactsandthat,were
itnotfortheseactstheirfreedom(orwhatweseeastheirfreedom)wouldnot
bethreatened.Iamwillingtoadmitthattheyare,tosomedegree,victimsof
theirimagination,inthatitinducesthemnottopayattentiontocertainrules
outsideofwhichthespeciesfeelsthreatenedwhichweareallsupposedto
knowandrespect.Buttheirprofoundindifferencetothewayinwhichwe
judgethem,andeventothevariouspunishmentsmetedouttothem,allowsus
tosupposethattheyderiveagreatdealofcomfortandconsolationfromtheir
imagination,thattheyenjoytheirmadnesssufficientlytoendurethethought
thatitsvaliditydoesnotextendbeyondthemselves.And,indeed,
hallucinations,illusions,etc.,arenotasourceoftriflingpleasure.Thebest
controlledsensualitypartakesofit,andIknowthattherearemanyevenings
whenIwouldgladlythatprettyhandwhich,duringthelastpagesofTaines
LIntelligence,indulgesinsomecuriousmisdeeds.Icouldspendmywholelife
pryingloosethesecretsoftheinsane.Thesepeoplearehonesttoafault,and
theirnaivethasnopeerbutmyown.ChristopherColumbusshouldhaveset
outtodiscoverAmericawithaboatloadofmadmen.Andnotehowthis
madnesshastakenshape,andendured.

Itisnotthefearofmadnesswhichwillobligeustoleavetheflagofimagination
furled.

Thecaseagainsttherealisticattitudedemandstobeexamined,followingthe
caseagainstthematerialisticattitude.Thelatter,morepoeticinfactthanthe
former,admittedlyimpliesonthepartofmanakindofmonstrouspridewhich,
admittedly,ismonstrous,butnotanewandmorecompletedecay.Itshould
aboveallbeviewedasawelcomereactionagainstcertainridiculoustendencies
ofspiritualism.Finally,itisnotincompatiblewithacertainnobilityof
thought.

Bycontrast,therealisticattitude,inspiredbypositivism,fromSaintThomas
AquinastoAnatoleFrance,clearlyseemstometobehostiletoanyintellectual
ormoraladvancement.Iloatheit,foritismadeupofmediocrity,hate,anddull
conceit.Itisthisattitudewhichtodaygivesbirthtotheseridiculousbooks,

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theseinsultingplays.Itconstantlyfeedsonandderivesstrengthfromthe
newspapersandstultifiesbothscienceandartbyassiduouslyflatteringthe
lowestoftastes;clarityborderingonstupidity,adogslife.Theactivityofthe
bestmindsfeelstheeffectsofit;thelawofthelowestcommondenominator
finallyprevailsuponthemasitdoesupontheothers.Anamusingresultofthis
stateofaffairs,inliteratureforexample,isthegeneroussupplyofnovels.Each
personaddshispersonallittle"observation"tothewhole.Asacleansing
antidotetoallthis,M.PaulValryrecentlysuggestedthatananthologybe
compiledinwhichthelargestpossiblenumberofopeningpassagesfrom
novelsbeoffered;theresultinginsanity,hepredicted,wouldbeasourceof
considerableedification.Themostfamousauthorswouldbeincluded.Sucha
thoughreflectsgreatcreditonPaulValrywho,sometimeago,speakingof
novels,assuredmethat,sofarashewasconcerned,hewouldcontinueto
refrainfromwriting:"TheMarquisewentoutatfive."Buthashekepthis
word?

Ifthepurelyinformativestyle,ofwhichthesentencejustquotedisaprime
example,isvirtuallytheruleratherthantheexceptioninthenovelform,itis
because,inallfairness,theauthorsambitionisseverelycircumscribed.The
circumstantial,needlesslyspecificnatureofeachoftheirnotationsleadsmeto
believethattheyareperpetratingajokeatmyexpense.Iamsparednoteven
oneofthecharactersslightestvacillations:willhebefairhaired?whatwillhis
namebe?willwefirstmeethimduringthesummer?Somanyquestions
resolvedonceandforall,aschancedirects;theonlydiscretionarypowerleft
meistoclosethebook,whichIamcarefultodosomewhereinthevicinityof
thefirstpage.Andthedescriptions!Thereisnothingtowhichtheirvacuitycan
becompared;theyarenothingbutsomanysuperimposedimagestakenfrom
somestockcatalogue,whichtheauthorutilizesmoreandmorewheneverhe
chooses;heseizestheopportunitytoslipmehispostcards,hetriestomakeme
agreewithhimabouttheclichs:

Thesmallroomintowhichtheyoungmanwasshownwascoveredwithyellow
wallpaper:thereweregeraniumsinthewindows,whichwerecoveredwith
muslincurtains;thesettingsuncastaharshlightovertheentiresetting.
Therewasnothingspecialabouttheroom.Thefurniture,ofyellowwood,was
allveryold.Asofawithatallbackturneddown,anovaltableoppositethesofa,
adressingtableandamirrorsetagainstthepierglass,somechairsalongthe
walls,twoorthreeetchingsofnovalueportrayingsomeGermangirlswith
birdsintheirhandssuchwerethefurnishings.(Dostoevski,Crimeand
Punishment)

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Iaminnomoodtoadmitthatthemindisinterestedinoccupyingitselfwith
suchmatters,evenfleetingly.Itmaybearguedthatthisschool-boy
descriptionhasitsplace,andthatatthisjunctureofthebooktheauthorhas
hisreasonsforburdeningme.Neverthelessheiswastinghistime,forIrefuse
togointohisroom.Otherslazinessorfatiguedoesnotinterestme.Ihavetoo
unstableanotionofthecontinuityoflifetoequateorcomparemymomentsof
depressionorweaknesswithmybestmoments.Whenoneceasestofeel,Iam
oftheopiniononeshouldkeepquiet.AndIwouldlikeitunderstoodthatIam
notaccusingorcondemninglackoforiginalityassuch.IamonlysayingthatI
donottakeparticularnoteoftheemptymomentsofmylife,thatitmaybe
unworthyforanymantocrystallizethosewhichseemtohimtobeso.Ishall,
withyourpermission,ignorethedescriptionofthatroom,andmanymorelike
it.

Notsofast,there;Imgettingintotheareaofpsychology,asubjectaboutwhich
Ishallbecarefulnottojoke.

Theauthorattacksacharacterand,thisbeingsettledupon,paradeshisheroto
andfroacrosstheworld.Nomatterwhathappens,thishero,whoseactions
andreactionsareadmirablypredictable,iscompellednottothwartorupset-eventhoughhelooksasthoughheis--thecalculationsofwhichheisthe
object.Thecurrentsoflifecanappeartolifthimup,rollhimover,casthim
down,hewillstillbelongtothisreadymadehumantype.Asimplegameof
chesswhichdoesn'tinterestmeintheleast--man,whoeverhemaybe,being
formeamediocreopponent.WhatIcannotbeararethosewretched
discussionsrelativetosuchandsuchamove,sincewinningorlosingisnotin
question.Andifthegameisnotworththecandle,ifobjectivereasondoesa
frightfuljob--asindeeditdoes--ofservinghimwhocallsuponit,isitnot
fittingandpropertoavoidallcontactwiththesecategories?"Diversityisso
vastthateverydifferenttoneofvoice,everystep,cough,everywipeofthe
nose,everysneeze...."*(Pascal.)Ifinaclusterofgrapestherearenotwoalike,
whydoyouwantmetodescribethisgrapebytheother,byalltheothers,why
doyouwantmetomakeapalatablegrape?Ourbrainsaredulledbythe
incurablemaniaofwantingtomaketheunknownknown,classifiable.The
desireforanalysiswinsoutoverthesentiments.**(Barrs,Proust.)Theresult
isstatementsofunduelengthwhosepersuasivepowerisattributablesolelyto
theirstrangenessandwhichimpressthereaderonlybytheabstractqualityof
theirvocabulary,whichmoreoverisill-defined.Ifthegeneralideasthat
philosophyhasthusfarcomeupwithastopicsofdiscussionrevealedbytheir
verynaturetheirdefinitiveincursionintoabroaderormoregeneralarea.I
wouldbethefirsttogreetthenewswithjoy.Butuptillnowithasbeennothing
butidlerepartee;theflashesofwitandothernicetiesvieinconcealingfromus
thetruethoughtinsearchofitself,insteadofconcentratingonobtaining

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successes.Itseemstomethateveryactisitsownjustification,atleastforthe
personwhohasbeencapableofcommittingit,thatitisendowedwitharadiant
powerwhichtheslightestglossiscertaintodiminish.Becauseofthisgloss,it
eveninasenseceasestohappen.Itgainsnothingtobethusdistinguished.
Stendhal'sheroesaresubjecttothecommentsandappraisals--appraisals
whicharemoreorlesssuccessful--madebythatauthor,whichaddnotone
whittotheirglory.Wherewereallyfindthemagainisatthepointatwhich
Stendahlhaslostthem.

Wearestilllivingunderthereignoflogic:this,ofcourse,iswhatIhavebeen
drivingat.Butinthisdayandagelogicalmethodsareapplicableonlytosolving
problemsofsecondaryinterest.Theabsoluterationalismthatisstillinvogue
allowsustoconsideronlyfactsrelatingdirectlytoourexperience.Logical
ends,onthecontrary,escapeus.Itispointlesstoaddthatexperienceitselfhas
founditselfincreasinglycircumscribed.Itpacesbackandforthinacagefrom
whichitismoreandmoredifficulttomakeitemerge.Ittooleansforsupport
onwhatismostimmediatelyexpedient,anditisprotectedbythesentinelsof
commonsense.Underthepretenseofcivilizationandprogress,wehave
managedtobanishfromthemindeverythingthatmayrightlyorwronglybe
termedsuperstition,orfancy;forbiddenisanykindofsearchfortruthwhichis
notinconformancewithacceptedpractices.Itwas,apparently,bypurechance
thatapartofourmentalworldwhichwepretendednottobeconcernedwith
anylonger--and,inmyopinionbyfarthemostimportantpart--hasbeen
broughtbacktolight.Forthiswemustgivethankstothediscoveriesof
SigmundFreud.Onthebasisofthesediscoveriesacurrentofopinionisfinally
formingbymeansofwhichthehumanexplorerwillbeabletocarryhis
investigationmuchfurther,authorizedashewillhenceforthbenottoconfine
himselfsolelytothemostsummaryrealities.Theimaginationisperhapson
thepointofreassertingitself,ofreclaimingitsrights.Ifthedepthsofourmind
containwithinitstrangeforcescapableofaugmentingthoseonthesurface,or
ofwagingavictoriousbattleagainstthem,thereiseveryreasontoseizethem-firsttoseizethem,then,ifneedbe,tosubmitthemtothecontrolofour
reason.Theanalyststhemselveshaveeverythingtogainbyit.Butitisworth
notingthatnomeanshasbeendesignatedaprioriforcarryingoutthis
undertaking,thatuntilfurthernoticeitcanbeconstruedtobetheprovinceof
poetsaswellasscholars,andthatitssuccessisnotdependentuponthemore
orlesscapriciouspathsthatwillbefollowed.

Freudveryrightlybroughthiscriticalfacultiestobearuponthedream.Itis,in
fact,inadmissiblethatthisconsiderableportionofpsychicactivity(since,at
leastfromman'sbirthuntilhisdeath,thoughtoffersnosolutionofcontinuity,
thesumofthemomentsofthedream,fromthepointofviewoftime,and
takingintoconsiderationonlythetimeofpuredreaming,thatisthedreamsof

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sleep,isnotinferiortothesumofthemomentsofreality,or,tobemore
preciselylimiting,themomentsofwaking)hasstilltodaybeensogrossly
neglected.Ihavealwaysbeenamazedatthewayanordinaryobserverlendsso
muchmorecredenceandattachessomuchmoreimportancetowakingevents
thantothoseoccurringindreams.Itisbecauseman,whenheceasestosleep,
isabovealltheplaythingofhismemory,andinitsnormalstatememorytakes
pleasureinweaklyretracingforhimthecircumstancesofthedream,in
strippingitofanyrealimportance,andindismissingtheonlydeterminant
fromthepointwherehethinkshehasleftitafewhoursbefore:thisfirmhope,
thisconcern.Heisundertheimpressionofcontinuingsomethingthatis
worthwhile.Thusthedreamfindsitselfreducedtoamereparenthesis,asis
thenight.And,likethenight,dreamsgenerallycontributelittletofurthering
ourunderstanding.Thiscuriousstateofaffairsseemstometocallforcertain
reflections:

1)Withinthelimitswheretheyoperate(orarethoughttooperate)dreamsgive
everyevidenceofbeingcontinuousandshowsignsoforganization.Memory
alonearrogatestoitselftherighttoexcerptfromdreams,toignorethe
transitions,andtodepictforusratheraseriesofdreamsthanthedreamitself.
Bythesametoken,atanygivenmomentwehaveonlyadistinctnotionof
realities,thecoordinationofwhichisaquestionofwill.*(Accountmustbe
takenofthedepthofthedream.ForthemostpartIretainonlywhatIcanglean
fromitsmostsuperficiallayers.WhatImostenjoycontemplatingabouta
dreamiseverythingthatsinksbackbelowthesurfaceinawakingstate,
everythingIhaveforgottenaboutmyactivitiesinthecourseofthepreceding
day,darkfoliage,stupidbranches.In"reality,"likewise,Iprefertofall.)Whatis
worthnotingisthatnothingallowsustopresupposeagreaterdissipationof
theelementsofwhichthedreamisconstituted.Iamsorrytohavetospeak
aboutitaccordingtoaformulawhichinprincipleexcludesthedream.When
willwehavesleepinglogicians,sleepingphilosophers?Iwouldliketosleep,in
ordertosurrendermyselftothedreamers,thewayIsurrendermyselftothose
whoreadmewitheyeswideopen;inordertostopimposing,inthisrealm,the
consciousrhythmofmythought.Perhapsmydreamlastnightfollowsthatof
thenightbefore,andwillbecontinuedthenextnight,withanexemplary
strictness.It'squitepossible,asthesayinggoes.Andsinceithasnotbeen
provedintheslightestthat,indoingso,the"reality"withwhichIamkeptbusy
continuestoexistinthestateofdream,thatitdoesnotsinkbackdownintothe
immemorial,whyshouldInotgranttodreamswhatIoccasionallyrefuse
reality,thatis,thisvalueofcertaintyinitselfwhich,initsowntime,isnot
opentomyrepudiation?WhyshouldInotexpectfromthesignofthedream
morethanIexpectfromadegreeofconsciousnesswhichisdailymoreacute?
Can'tthedreamalsobeusedinsolvingthefundamentalquestionsoflife?Are

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thesequestionsthesameinonecaseasintheotherand,inthedream,dothese
questionsalreadyexist?Isthedreamanylessrestrictiveorpunitivethanthe
rest?Iamgrowingoldand,morethanthatrealitytowhichIbelieveIsubject
myself,itisperhapsthedream,thedifferencewithwhichItreatthedream,
whichmakesmegrowold.

2)Letmecomebackagaintothewakingstate.Ihavenochoicebuttoconsider
itaphenomenonofinterference.Notonlydoestheminddisplay,inthisstate,a
strangetendencytoloseitsbearings(asevidencedbytheslipsandmistakes
thesecretsofwhicharejustbeginningtoberevealedtous),but,whatismore,
itdoesnotappearthat,whenthemindisfunctioningnormally,itreally
respondstoanythingbutthesuggestionswhichcometoitfromthedepthsof
thatdarknighttowhichIcommendit.Howeverconditioneditmaybe,its
balanceisrelative.Itscarcelydaresexpressitselfand,ifitdoes,itconfines
itselftoverifyingthatsuchandsuchanidea,orsuchandsuchawoman,has
madeanimpressiononit.Whatimpressionitwouldbehardpressedtosay,by
whichitrevealsthedegreeofitssubjectivity,andnothingmore.Thisidea,this
woman,disturbit,theytendtomakeitlesssevere.Whattheydoisisolatethe
mindforasecondfromitssolventandspiritittoheaven,asthebeautiful
precipitateitcanbe,thatitis.Whenallelsefails,itthencallsuponchance,a
divinityevenmoreobscurethantheotherstowhomitascribesallits
aberrations.Whocansaytomethattheanglebywhichthatideawhichaffects
itisoffered,thatwhatitlikesintheeyeofthatwomanisnotpreciselywhat
linksittoitsdream,bindsittothosefundamentalfactswhich,throughitsown
fault,ithaslost?Andifthingsweredifferent,whatmightitbecapableof?I
wouldliketoprovideitwiththekeytothiscorridor.

3)Themindofthemanwhodreamsisfullysatisfiedbywhathappenstohim.
Theagonizingquestionofpossibilityisnolongerpertinent.Kill,flyfaster,love
toyourheart'scontent.Andifyoushoulddie,areyounotcertainofreawaking
amongthedead?Letyourselfbecarriedalong,eventswillnottolerateyour
interference.Youarenameless.Theeaseofeverythingispriceless.

Whatreason,Iask,areasonsomuchvasterthantheother,makesdreams
seemsonaturalandallowsmetowelcomeunreservedlyawelterofepisodesso
strangethattheycouldconfoundmenowasIwrite?AndyetIcanbelievemy
eyes,myears;thisgreatdayhasarrived,thisbeasthasspoken.

Ifman'sawakingisharder,ifitbreaksthespelltooabruptly,itisbecausehe
hasbeenledtomakeforhimselftooimpoverishedanotionofatonement.

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4)Fromthemomentwhenitissubjectedtoamethodicalexamination,when,
bymeansyettobedetermined,wesucceedinrecordingthecontentsofdreams
intheirentirety(andthatpresupposesadisciplineofmemoryspanning
generations;butletusnonethelessbeginbynotingthemostsalientfacts),
whenitsgraphwillexpandwithunparalleledvolumeandregularity,wemay
hopethatthemysterieswhichreallyarenotwillgivewaytothegreatMystery.
Ibelieveinthefutureresolutionofthesetwostates,dreamandreality,which
areseeminglysocontradictory,intoakindofabsolutereality,asurreality,if
onemaysospeak.ItisinquestofthissurrealitythatIamgoing,certainnotto
finditbuttoounmindfulofmydeathnottocalculatetosomeslightdegreethe
joysofitspossession.

AstoryistoldaccordingtowhichSaint-Pol-Roux,intimesgoneby,usedto
haveanoticepostedonthedoorofhismanorhouseinCamaret,everyevening
beforehewenttosleep,whichread:THEPOETISWORKING.

Agreatdealmorecouldbesaid,butinpassingImerelywantedtotouchupona
subjectwhichinitselfwouldrequireaverylongandmuchmoredetailed
discussion;Ishallcomebacktoit.Atthisjuncture,myintentionwasmerelyto
markapointbynotingthehateofthemarvelouswhichragesincertainmen,
thisabsurditybeneathwhichtheytrytoburyit.Letusnotmincewords:the
marvelousisalwaysbeautiful,anythingmarvelousisbeautiful,infactonlythe
marvelousisbeautiful.

Intherealmofliterature,onlythemarvelousiscapableoffecundatingworks
whichbelongtoaninferiorcategorysuchasthenovel,andgenerallyspeaking,
anythingthatinvolvesstorytelling.Lewis'TheMonkisanadmirableproofof
this.Itisinfusedthroughoutwiththepresenceofthemarvelous.Longbefore
theauthorhasfreedhismaincharactersfromalltemporalconstraints,one
feelsthemreadytoactwithanunprecedentedpride.Thispassionforeternity
withwhichtheyareconstantlystirredlendsanunforgettableintensitytotheir
torments,andtomine.Imeanthatthisbook,frombeginningtoend,andinthe
purestwayimaginable,exercisesanexaltingeffectonlyuponthatpartofthe
mindwhichaspirestoleavetheearthandthat,strippedofaninsignificantpart
ofitsplot,whichbelongstotheperiodinwhichitwaswritten,itconstitutesa
paragonofprecisionandinnocentgrandeur.*(Whatisadmirableaboutthe
fantasticisthatthereisnolongeranythingfantastic:thereisonlythereal.)It
seemstomenonebetterhasbeendone,andthatthecharacterofMathildain
particularisthemostmovingcreationthatonecancredittothisfigurative
fashioninliterature.Sheislessacharacterthanacontinualtemptation.Andif
acharacterisnotatemptation,whatishe?Anextremetemptation,she.InThe
Monkthe"nothingisimpossibleforhimwhodarestry"givesititsfull,
convincingmeasure.Ghostsplayalogicalroleinthebook,sincethecritical

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minddoesnotseizetheminordertodisputethem.Ambrosio'spunishmentis
likewisetreatedinalegitimatemanner,sinceitisfinallyacceptedbythe
criticalfacultyasanaturaldenouement.

Itmayseemarbitraryonmypart,whendiscussingthemarvelous,tochoose
thismodel,fromwhichboththeNordicliteraturesandOrientalliteratures
haveborrowedtimeandtimeagain,nottomentionthereligiousliteraturesof
everycountry.Thisisbecausemostoftheexampleswhichtheseliteratures
couldhavefurnishedmewitharetaintedbypuerility,forthesimplereason
thattheyareaddressedtochildren.Atanearlyagechildrenareweanedonthe
marvelous,andlaterontheyfailtoretainasufficientvirginityofmindto
thoroughlyenjoyfairytales.Nomatterhowcharmingtheymaybe,agrown
manwouldthinkhewererevertingtochildhoodbynourishinghimselfonfairy
tales,andIamthefirsttoadmitthatallsuchtalesarenotsuitableforhim.The
fabricofadorableimprobabilitiesmustbemadeatriflemoresubtletheolder
wegrow,andwearestillattheageofwaitingforthiskindofspider....Butthe
facultiesdonotchangeradically.Fear,theattractionoftheunusual,chance,
thetasteforthingsextravagantarealldeviceswhichwecanalwayscallupon
withoutfearofdeception.Therearefairytalestobewrittenforadults,fairy
talesstillalmostblue.

Themarvelousisnotthesameineveryperiodofhistory:itpartakesinsome
obscurewayofasortofgeneralrevelationonlythefragmentsofwhichcome
downtous:theyaretheromanticruins,themodernmannequin,oranyother
symbolcapableofaffectingthehumansensibilityforaperiodoftime.Inthese
areaswhichmakeussmile,thereisstillportrayedtheincurablehuman
restlessness,andthisiswhyItakethemintoconsiderationandwhyIjudge
theminseparablefromcertainproductionsofgeniuswhichare,morethanthe
others,painfullyafflictedbythem.TheyareVillon'sgibbets,Racine'sGreeks,
Baudelaire'scouches.TheycoincidewithaneclipseofthetasteIammadeto
endure,Iwhosenotionoftasteistheimageofabigspot.Amidthebadtasteof
mytimeIstrivetogofurtherthananyoneelse.ItwouldhavebeenI,hadIlived
in1820,I"thebleedingnun,"Iwhowouldnothavesparedthiscunningand
banal"letusconceal"whereoftheparodicalCuisinspeaks,itwouldhavebeen
I,Iwhowouldhavereveledintheenormousmetaphors,ashesays,allphases
ofthe"silverdisk."FortodayIthinkofacastle,halfofwhichisnotnecessarily
inruins;thiscastlebelongstome,Ipictureitinarusticsetting,notfarfrom
Paris.Theoutbuildingsaretoonumeroustomention,and,asfortheinterior,it
hasbeenfrightfullyrestored,insuchmannerastoleavenothingtobedesired
fromtheviewpointofcomfort.Automobilesareparkedbeforethedoor,
concealedbytheshadeoftrees.Afewofmyfriendsarelivinghereas
permanentguests:thereisLouisAragonleaving;heonlyhastimeenoughto
sayhello;PhilippeSoupaultgetsupwiththestars,andPaulEluard,ourgreat

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Eluard,hasnotyetcomehome.ThereareRobertDesnosandRogerVitracout
onthegroundsporingoveranancientedictonduelling;GeorgesAuric,Jean
Paulhan;MaxMorise,whorowssowell,andBenjaminPret,busywithhis
equationswithbirds;andJosephDelteil;andJeanCarrive;andGeorges
Limbour,andGeorgesLimbours(thereisawholehedgeofGeorgesLimbours);
andMarcelNoll;thereisT.Fraenkelwavingtousfromhiscaptiveballoon,
GeorgesMalkine,AntoninArtaud,FrancisGrard,PierreNaville,J.-A.
Boiffard,andafterthemJacquesBaronandhisbrother,handsomeandcordial,
andsomanyothersbesides,andgorgeouswomen,Imightadd.Nothingistoo
goodfortheseyoungmen,theirwishesare,astowealth,somanycommands.
FrancisPicabiacomestopayusacall,andlastweek,inthehallofmirrors,we
receivedacertainMarcelDuchampwhomwehadnothithertoknown.Picasso
goeshuntingintheneighborhood.Thespiritofdemoralizationhaselected
domicileinthecastle,anditiswithitwehavetodealeverytimeitisaquestion
ofcontactwithourfellowmen,butthedoorsarealwaysopen,andonedoesnot
beginby"thanking"everyone,youknow.Moreover,thesolitudeisvast,we
don'toftenrunintooneanother.Andanyway,isn'twhatmattersthatwebethe
mastersofourselves,themastersofwomen,andoflovetoo?

Ishallbeprovedguiltyofpoeticdishonesty:everyonewillgoparadingabout
sayingthatIliveontherueFontaineandthathewillhavenoneofthewater
thatflowstherefrom.Tobesure!ButishecertainthatthiscastleintowhichI
cordiallyinvitehimisanimage?Whatifthiscastlereallyexisted!Myguests
aretheretoproveitdoes;theirwhimistheluminousroadthatleadstoit.We
reallylivebyourfantasieswhenwegivefreereigntothem.Andhowcould
whatonemightdobothertheother,there,safelyshelteredfromthe
sentimentalpursuitandatthetrystingplaceofopportunities?

Manproposesanddisposes.Heandhealonecandeterminewhetherheis
completelymasterofhimself,thatis,whetherhemaintainsthebodyofhis
desires,dailymoreformidable,inastateofanarchy.Poetryteacheshimto.It
bearswithinitselftheperfectcompensationforthemiseriesweendure.Itcan
alsobeanorganizer,ifever,astheresultofalessintimatedisappointment,we
contemplatetakingitseriously.Thetimeiscomingwhenitdecreestheendof
moneyandbyitselfwillbreakthebreadofheavenfortheearth!Therewillstill
begatheringsonthepublicsquares,andmovementsyouneverdaredhope
participatein.Farewelltoabsurdchoices,thedreamsofdarkabyss,rivalries,
theprolongedpatience,theflightoftheseasons,theartificialorderofideas,the
rampofdanger,timeforeverything!Mayyouonlytakethetroubletopractice
poetry.Isitnotincumbentuponus,whoarealreadylivingoffit,totryand
imposewhatweholdtobeourcaseforfurtherinquiry?

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Itmattersnotwhetherthereisacertaindisproportionbetweenthisdefense
andtheillustrationthatwillfollowit.Itwasaquestionofgoingbacktothe
sourcesofpoeticimaginationand,whatismore,ofremainingthere.NotthatI
pretendtohavedoneso.Itrequiresagreatdealoffortitudetotrytosetup
one'sabodeinthesedistantregionswhereeverythingseemsatfirsttobeso
awkwardanddifficult,allthemoresoifonewantstotrytotakesomeonethere.
Besides,oneisneversureofreallybeingthere.Ifoneisgoingtoallthat
trouble,onemightaswellstopoffsomewhereelse.Bethatasitmay,thefactis
thatthewaytotheseregionsisclearlymarked,andthattoattainthetruegoal
isnowmerelyamatterofthetravelers'abilitytoendure.

Weareallmoreorlessawareoftheroadtraveled.Iwascarefultorelate,inthe
courseofastudyofthecaseofRobertDesnosentitledENTREDES
MDIUMS,*(SeeLesPasperdus,publishedbyN.R.F.)thatIhadbeenledto"
concentratemyattentiononthemoreorlesspartialsentenceswhich,when
oneisquitealoneandonthevergeoffallingasleep,becomeperceptibleforthe
mindwithoutitsbeingpossibletodiscoverwhatprovokedthem."Ihadthen
justattemptedthepoeticadventurewiththeminimumofrisks,thatis,my
aspirationswerethesameastheyaretodaybutItrustedintheslownessof
formulationtokeepmefromuselesscontacts,contactsofwhichIcompletely
disapproved.Thisattitudeinvolvedamodestyofthoughtcertainvestigesof
whichIstillretain.Attheendofmylife,Ishalldoubtlessmanagetospeakwith
greateffortthewaypeoplespeak,toapologizeformyvoiceandmyfew
remaininggestures.Thevirtueofthespokenword(andthewrittenwordall
themoreso)seemedtometoderivefromthefacultyofforeshorteningina
strikingmannertheexposition(sincetherewasexposition)ofasmallnumber
offacts,poeticorother,ofwhichImademyselfthesubstance.Ihadcometo
theconclusionthatRimbaudhadnotproceededanydifferently.Iwas
composing,withaconcernforvarietythatdeservedbetter,thefinalpoemsof
Montdepit,thatis,Imanagedtoextractfromtheblanklinesofthisbookan
incredibleadvantage.Theselinesweretheclosedeyetotheoperationsof
thoughtthatIbelievedIwasobligedtokeephiddenfromthereader.Itwasnot
deceitonmypart,butmyloveofshockingthereader.Ihadtheillusionofa
possiblecomplicity,whichIhadmoreandmoredifficultygivingup.Ihad
beguntocherishwordsexcessivelyforthespacetheyallowaroundthem,for
theirtangencieswithcountlessotherwordswhichIdidnotutter.Thepoem
BLACKFORESTderivespreciselyfromthisstateofmind.Ittookmesix
monthstowriteit,andyoumaytakemywordforitthatIdidnotrestasingle
day.ButthisstemmedfromtheopinionIhadofmyselfinthosedays,which
washigh,pleasedon'tjudgemetooharshly.Ienjoythesestupidconfessions.
Atthatpointcubistpseudo-poetrywastryingtogetafoothold,butithad
emergeddefenselessfromPicasso'sbrain,andIwasthoughttobeasdullas

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dishwater(andstillam).Ihadasneakingsuspicion,moreover,thatfromthe
viewpointofpoetryIwasoffonthewrongroad,butIhedgedmybetasbestI
could,defyinglyricismwithsalvosofdefinitionsandformulas(theDada
phenomenawerewaitinginthewings,readytocomeonstage)andpretending
tosearchforanapplicationofpoetrytoadvertising(Iwentsofarastoclaim
thattheworldwouldend,notwithagoodbookbutwithabeautiful
advertisementforheavenorforhell).

Inthosedays,amanatleastasboringasI,PierreReverdy,waswriting:

Theimageisapurecreationofthemind.

Itcannotbebornfromacomparisonbutfromajuxtapositionoftwomoreor
lessdistantrealities.

Themoretherelationshipbetweenthetwojuxtaposedrealitiesisdistantand
true,thestrongertheimagewillbe--thegreateritsemotionalpowerand
poeticreality...*(Nord-Sud,March1918)

Thesewords,howeversibyllinefortheuninitiated,wereextremelyrevealing,
andIponderedthemforalongtime.Buttheimageeludedme.Reverdy's
aesthetic,acompletelyaposterioriaesthetic,ledmetomistaketheeffectsfor
thecauses.ItwasinthemidstofallthisthatIrenouncedirrevocablymypoint
ofview.

Oneevening,therefore,beforeIfellasleep,Iperceived,soclearlyarticulated
thatitwasimpossibletochangeaword,butnonethelessremovedfromthe
soundofanyvoice,aratherstrangephrasewhichcametomewithoutany
apparentrelationshiptotheeventsinwhich,myconsciousnessagrees,Iwas
theninvolved,aphrasewhichseemedtomeinsistent,aphrase,ifImaybeso
bold,whichwasknockingatthewindow.Itookcursorynoteofitandprepared
tomoveonwhenitsorganiccharactercaughtmyattention.Actually,this
phraseastonishedme:unfortunatelyIcannotrememberitexactly,butitwas
somethinglike:"Thereisamancutintwobythewindow,"buttherecouldbe
noquestionofambiguity,accompaniedasitwasbythefaintvisualimage*
(WereIapainter,thisvisualdepictionwoulddoubtlesshavebecomemore
importantformethantheother.Itwasmostcertainlymyprevious
predispositionswhichdecidedthematter.Sincethatday,Ihavehadoccasion
toconcentratemyattentionvoluntarilyonsimilarapparitions,andIknow
theyarefullyasclearasauditoryphenomena.Withapencilandwhitesheetof
papertohand,Icouldeasilytracetheiroutlines.Hereagainitisnotamatterof
drawing,butsimplyoftracing.Icouldthusdepictatree,awave,amusical
instrument,allmannerofthingsofwhichIampresentlyincapableof

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providingeventheroughestsketch.Iwouldplungeintoit,convincedthatI
wouldfindmywayagain,inamazeoflineswhichatfirstglancewouldseemto
begoingnowhere.And,uponopeningmyeyes,Iwouldgettheverystrong
impressionofsomething"neverseen."TheproofofwhatIamsayinghasbeen
providedmanytimesbyRobertDesnos:tobeconvinced,onehasonlytoleaf
throughthepagesofissuenumber36ofFeuilleslibreswhichcontainsseveral
ofhisdrawings(RomeoandJuliet,AManDiedThisMorning,etc.)whichwere
takenbythismagazineasthedrawingsofamadmanandpublishedassuch.)of
amanwalkingcuthalfwayupbyawindowperpendiculartotheaxisofhis
body.Beyondtheslightestshadowofadoubt,whatIsawwasthesimple
reconstructioninspaceofamanleaningoutawindow.Butthiswindowhaving
shiftedwiththeman,IrealizedthatIwasdealingwithanimageofafairlyrare
sort,andallIcouldthinkofwastoincorporateitintomymaterialforpoetic
construction.NosoonerhadIgranteditthiscapacitythanitwasinfact
succeededbyawholeseriesofphrases,withonlybriefpausesbetweenthem,
whichsurprisedmeonlyslightlylessandleftmewiththeimpressionoftheir
beingsogratuitousthatthecontrolIhadthenexerciseduponmyselfseemed
tomeillusoryandallIcouldthinkofwasputtinganendtotheinterminable
quarrelragingwithinme.*(KnutHamsumascribesthissortofrevelationto
whichIhadbeensubjectedasderivingfromhunger,andhemaynotbewrong.
(ThefactisIdidnoteateverydayduringthatperiodofmylife).Mostcertainly
themanifestationsthathedescribesinthesetermsareclearlythesame:

"ThefollowingdayIawokeatanearlyhour.Itwasstilldark.Myeyeshadbeen
openforalongtimewhenIheardtheclockintheapartmentabovestrikefive.I
wantedtogobacktosleep,butIcouldn't;Iwaswideawakeandathousand
thoughtswerecrowdingthroughmymind.

"Suddenlyafewgoodfragmentscametomind,quitesuitabletobeusedina
roughdraft,orserialized;allofasuddenIfound,quitebychance,beautiful
phrases,phrasessuchasIhadneverwritten.Irepeatedthemtomyselfslowly,
wordbyword;theywereexcellent.Andtherewerestillmorecoming.Igotup
andpickedupapencilandsomepaperthatwereonatablebehindmybed.It
wasasthoughsomeveinhadburstwithinme,onewordfollowedanother,
founditsproperplace,adapteditselftothesituation,scenepileduponscene,
theactionunfolded,oneretortafteranotherwelledupinmymind,Iwas
enjoyingmyselfimmensely.Thoughtscametomesorapidlyandcontinuedto
flowsoabundantlythatIlostawholehostofdelicatedetails,becausemy
pencilcouldnotkeepupwiththem,andyetIwentasfastasIcould,myhandin
constantmotion,Ididnotloseaminute.Thesentencescontinuedtowellup
withinme,Iwaspregnantwithmysubject."

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ApollinaireassertedthatChirico'sfirstpaintingsweredoneunderthe
influenceofcenesthesicdisorders(migraines,colics,etc.).)

CompletelyoccupiedasIstillwaswithFreudatthattime,andfamiliarasIwas
withhismethodsofexaminationwhichIhadsomeslightoccasiontouseon
somepatientsduringthewar,Iresolvedtoobtainfrommyselfwhatwewere
tryingtoobtainfromthem,namely,amonologuespokenasrapidlyaspossible
withoutanyinterventiononthepartofthecriticalfaculties,amonologue
consequentlyunencumberedbytheslightestinhibitionandwhichwas,as
closelyaspossible,akintospokenthought.Ithadseemedtome,andstilldoes-thewayinwhichthephraseaboutthemancutintwohadcometomeisan
indicationofit--thatthespeedofthoughtisnogreaterthanthespeedof
speech,andthatthoughtdoesnotnecessarilydefylanguage,noreventhefastmovingpen.ItwasinthisframeofmindthatPhilippeSoupault--towhomI
hadconfidedtheseinitialconclusionsandIdecidedtoblackensomepaper,
withapraiseworthydisdainforwhatmightresultfromaliterarypointofview.
Theeaseofexecutiondidtherest.Bytheendofthefirstdaywewereableto
readtoourselvessomefiftyorsopagesobtainedinthismanner,andbeginto
compareourresults.Allinall,Soupault'spagesandmineprovedtobe
remarkablysimilar:thesameoverconstruction,shortcomingsofasimilar
nature,butalso,onbothourparts,theillusionofanextraordinaryverve,a
greatdealofemotion,aconsiderablechoiceofimagesofaqualitysuchthatwe
wouldnothavebeencapableofpreparingasingleoneinlonghand,avery
specialpicturesquequalityand,hereandthere,astrongcomicaleffect.The
onlydifferencebetweenourtwotextsseemedtometoderiveessentiallyfrom
ourrespectivetempers.Soupault'sbeinglessstaticthanmine,and,ifhedoes
notmindmyofferingthisoneslightcriticism,fromthefactthathehadmade
theerrorofputtingafewwordsbywayoftitlesatthetopofcertainpages,I
supposeinaspiritofmystification.Ontheotherhand,Imustgivecreditwhere
creditisdueandsaythatheconstantlyandvigorouslyopposedanyeffortto
retouchorcorrect,howeverslightly,anypassageofthiskindwhichseemedto
meunfortunate.Inthishewas,tobesure,absolutelyright.*(Ibelievemore
andmoreintheinfallibilityofmythoughtwithrespecttomyself,andthisis
toofair.Nonetheless,withthisthought-writing,whereoneisatthemercyof
thefirstoutsidedistraction,"ebullutions"canoccur.Itwouldbeinexcusable
forustopretendotherwise.Bydefinition,thoughtisstrong,andincapableof
catchingitselfinerror.Theblamefortheseobviousweaknessesmustbe
placedonsuggestionsthatcometoitfromwithout.)Itis,infact,difficultto
appreciatefairlythevariouselementspresent:onemayevengosofarastosay
thatitisimpossibletoappreciatethematafirstreading.Toyouwhowrite,
theseelementsare,onthesurface,asstrangetoyouastheyaretoanyoneelse,
andnaturallyyouarewaryofthem.Poeticallyspeaking,whatstrikesyouabout

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themaboveallistheirextremedegreeofimmediateabsurdity,thequalityof
thisabsurdity,uponcloserscrutiny,beingtogivewaytoeverything
admissible,everythinglegitimateintheworld:thedisclosureofacertain
numberofpropertiesandoffactsnolessobjective,inthefinalanalysis,than
theothers.

InhomagetoGuillaumeApollinaire,whohadjustdiedandwho,onseveral
occasions,seemedtoustohavefollowedadisciplineofthiskind,without
howeverhavingsacrificedtoitanymediocreliterarymeans,SoupaultandI
baptizedthenewmodeofpureexpressionwhichwehadatourdisposaland
whichwewishedtopassontoourfriends,bythenameofSURREALISM.I
believethatthereisnopointtodayindwellinganyfurtheronthiswordand
thatthemeaningwegaveitinitiallyhasgenerallyprevailedoverits
Apollinariansense.Tobeevenfairer,wecouldprobablyhavetakenoverthe
wordSUPERNATURALISMemployedbyGrarddeNervalinhisdedicationto
theFillesdefeu.*(AndalsobyThomasCarlyleinSartorResartus([BookIII]
ChapterVIII,"NaturalSupernaturalism"),1833-34.)Itappears,infact,that
Nervalpossessedtoateethespiritwithwhichweclaimakinship,Apollinaire
havingpossessed,onthecontrary,naughtbuttheletter,stillimperfect,of
Surrealism,havingshownhimselfpowerlesstogiveavalidtheoreticalideaof
it.HerearetwopassagesbyNervalwhichseemtometobeextremely
significantinthisrespect:

Iamgoingtoexplaintoyou,mydearDumas,thephenomenonofwhichyou
havespokenashortwhileago.Thereare,asyouknow,certainstorytellerswho
cannotinventwithoutidentifyingwiththecharacterstheirimaginationhas
dreamtup.YoumayrecallhowconvincinglyouroldfriendNodierusedtotell
howithadbeenhismisfortuneduringtheRevolutiontobeguillotined;one
becamesocompletelyconvincedofwhathewassayingthatonebeganto
wonderhowhehadmanagedtohavehisheadgluedbackon.

...Andsinceyouhavebeenindiscreetenoughtoquoteoneofthesonnets
composedinthisSUPERNATURALISTICdream-state,astheGermanswould
callit,youwillhavetohearthemall.Youwillfindthemattheendofthe
volume.TheyarehardlyanymoreobscurethanHegel'smetaphysicsor
Swedenborg'sMEMORABILIA,andwouldlosetheircharmiftheywere
explained,ifsuchwerepossible;atleastadmittheworthoftheexpression....**
(SeealsoL'IdoralismebySaint-Pol-Roux.)

ThosewhomightdisputeourrighttoemploythetermSURREALISMinthe
veryspecialsensethatweunderstanditarebeingextremelydishonest,for
therecanbenodoubtthatthiswordhadnocurrencybeforewecamealong.
Therefore,Iamdefiningitonceandforall:

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SURREALISM,n.Psychicautomatisminitspurestate,bywhichoneproposes
toexpress--verbally,bymeansofthewrittenword,orinanyothermanner-theactualfunctioningofthought.Dictatedbythethought,intheabsenceof
anycontrolexercisedbyreason,exemptfromanyaestheticormoralconcern.

ENCYCLOPEDIA.Philosophy.Surrealismisbasedonthebeliefinthesuperior
realityofcertainformsofpreviouslyneglectedassociations,inthe
omnipotenceofdream,inthedisinterestedplayofthought.Ittendstoruin
onceandforallallotherpsychicmechanismsandtosubstituteitselfforthem
insolvingalltheprincipalproblemsoflife.Thefollowinghaveperformedacts
ofABSOLUTESURREALISM:Messrs.Aragon,Baron,Boiffard,Breton,
Carrive,Crevel,Delteil,Desnos,Eluard,Grard,Limbour,Malkine,Morise,
Naville,Noll,Pret,Picon,Soupault,Vitrac.

Theyseemtobe,uptothepresenttime,theonlyones,andtherewouldbeno
ambiguityaboutitwereitnotforthecaseofIsidoreDucasse,aboutwhomI
lackinformation.And,ofcourse,ifoneistojudgethemonlysuperficiallyby
theirresults,agoodnumberofpoetscouldpassforSurrealists,beginningwith
Danteand,inhisfinermoments,Shakespeare.Inthecourseofthevarious
attemptsIhavemadetoreducewhatis,bybreachoftrust,calledgenius,Ihave
foundnothingwhichinthefinalanalysiscanbeattributedtoanyothermethod
thanthat.

Young'sNightsareSurrealistfromoneendtotheother;unfortunatelyitisa
priestwhoisspeaking,abadpriestnodoubt,butapriestnonetheless.

SwiftisSurrealistinmalice,

SadeisSurrealistinsadism.

ChateaubriandisSurrealistinexoticism.

ConstantisSurrealistinpolitics.

HugoisSurrealistwhenheisn'tstupid.

Desbordes-ValmoreisSurrealistinlove.

BertrandisSurrealistinthepast.

RabbeisSurrealistindeath.

PoeisSurrealistinadventure.

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BaudelaireisSurrealistinmorality.

RimbaudisSurrealistinthewayhelived,andelsewhere.

MallarmisSurrealistwhenheisconfiding.

JarryisSurrealistinabsinthe.

NouveauisSurrealistinthekiss.

Saint-Pol-RouxisSurrealistinhisuseofsymbols.

FargueisSurrealistintheatmosphere.

VachisSurrealistinme.

ReverdyisSurrealistathome.

Saint-Jean-PerseisSurrealistatadistance.

RousselisSurrealistasastoryteller.

Etc.

Iwouldliketostressthepoint:theyarenotalwaysSurrealists,inthatIdiscern
ineachofthemacertainnumberofpreconceivedideastowhich--very
naively!--theyhold.Theyholdtothembecausetheyhadnotheardthe
Surrealistvoice,theonethatcontinuestopreachontheeveofdeathandabove
thestorms,becausetheydidnotwanttoservesimplytoorchestratethe
marvelousscore.Theywereinstrumentstoofullofpride,andthisiswhythey
havenotalwaysproducedaharmonioussound.*(Icouldsaythesameofa
numberofphilosophersandpainters,including,amongthelatter,Uccello,
frompaintersofthepast,and,inthemodernera,Seurat,GustaveMoreau,
Matisse(in"LaMusique,"forexample),Derain,Picasso,(byfarthemostpure),
Braque,Duchamp,Picabia,Chirico(soadmirableforsolong),Klee,ManRay,
MaxErnst,and,onesoclosetous,AndrMasson.)

Butwe,whohavemadenoeffortwhatsoevertofilter,whoinourworkshave
madeourselvesintosimplereceptaclesofsomanyechoes,modestrecording
instrumentswhoarenotmesmerizedbythedrawingswearemaking,perhaps
weserveanevennoblercause.Thusdowerenderwithintegritythe"talent"
whichhasbeenlenttous.Youmightaswellspeakofthetalentofthis
platinumruler,thismirror,thisdoor,andofthesky,ifyoulike.

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Wedonothaveanytalent;askPhilippeSoupault:

"Anatomicalproductsofmanufactureandlow-incomedwellingswilldestroy
thetallestcities."

AskRogerVitrac:

"NosoonerhadIcalledforththemarble-admiralthanheturnedonhisheel
likeahorsewhichrearsatthesightoftheNorthstarandshowedme,inthe
planeofhistwo-pointedcockedhat,aregionwhereIwastospendmylife."

AskPaulEluard:

"Thisisanoft-toldtalethatItell,afamouspoemthatIreread:Iamleaning
againstawall,withmyverdantearsandmylipsburnedtoacrisp."

AskMaxMorise:

"Thebearofthecavesandhisfriendthebittern,thevol-au-ventandhisvalet
thewind,theLordChancellorwithhisLady,thescarecrowforsparrowsand
hisaccomplicethesparrow,thetesttubeandhisdaughtertheneedle,this
carnivoreandhisbrotherthecarnival,thesweeperandhismonocle,the
Mississippianditslittledog,thecoralanditsjugofmilk,theMiracleandits
GoodLord,mightjustaswellgoanddisappearfromthesurfaceofthesea."

AskJosephDelteil:

"Alas!Ibelieveinthevirtueofbirds.Andafeatherisallittakestomakemedie
laughing."

AskLouisAragon:

"Duringashortbreakintheparty,astheplayersweregatheringaroundabowl
offlamingpunch,Iaskedatreeifitstillhaditsredribbon."

Andaskme,whowasunabletokeepmyselffromwritingtheserpentine,
distractinglinesofthispreface.

AskRobertDesnos,hewho,morethananyofus,hasperhapsgotclosesttothe
Surrealisttruth,hewho,inhisstillunpublishedworks*(NOUVELLES
HBRIDES,DSORDREFORMEL,DEUILPOURDEUIL.)andinthecourseof
thenumerousexperimentshehasbeenapartyto,hasfullyjustifiedthehopeI
placedinSurrealismandleadsmetobelievethatagreatdealmorewillstill
comeofit.DesnosspeaksSurrealistatwill.Hisextraordinaryagilityinorally

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followinghisthoughtisworthasmuchtousasanynumberofsplendid
speecheswhicharelost,Desnoshavingbetterthingstodothanrecordthem.
Hereadshimselflikeanopenbook,anddoesnothingtoretainthepages,which
flyawayinthewindywakeofhislife.

SECRETSOFTHEMAGICAL

SURREALISTART

WrittenSurrealistcomposition

firstandlastdraft

Afteryouhavesettledyourselfinaplaceasfavorableaspossibletothe
concentrationofyourminduponitself,havewritingmaterialsbroughttoyou.
Putyourselfinaspassive,orreceptive,astateofmindasyoucan.Forgetabout
yourgenius,yourtalents,andthetalentsofeveryoneelse.Keepreminding
yourselfthatliteratureisoneofthesaddestroadsthatleadstoeverything.
Writequickly,withoutanypreconceivedsubject,fastenoughsothatyouwill
notrememberwhatyou'rewritingandbetemptedtorereadwhatyouhave
written.Thefirstsentencewillcomespontaneously,socompellingisthetruth
thatwitheverypassingsecondthereisasentenceunknowntoour
consciousnesswhichisonlycryingouttobeheard.Itissomewhatofa
problemtoformanopinionaboutthenextsentence;itdoubtlesspartakesboth
ofourconsciousactivityandoftheother,ifoneagreesthatthefactofhaving
writtenthefirstentailsaminimumofperception.Thisshouldbeofno
importancetoyou,however;toalargeextent,thisiswhatismostinteresting
andintriguingabouttheSurrealistgame.Thefactstillremainsthat
punctuationnodoubtresiststheabsolutecontinuityoftheflowwithwhichwe
areconcerned,althoughitmayseemasnecessaryasthearrangementofknots
inavibratingcord.Goonaslongasyoulike.Putyourtrustintheinexhaustible
natureofthemurmur.Ifsilencethreatenstosettleinifyoushouldever
happentomakeamistake--amistake,perhapsduetocarelessness--breakoff
withouthesitationwithanoverlyclearline.Followingawordtheoriginof
whichseemssuspicioustoyou,placeanyletterwhatsoever,theletter"l"for
example,alwaystheletter"l,"andbringthearbitrarybackbymakingthisletter
thefirstofthefollowingword.

Hownottobeboredanylongerwhenwithothers

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Thisisverydifficult.Don'tbeathomeforanyone,andoccasionally,whenno
onehasforcedhiswayin,interruptingyouinthemidstofyourSurrealist
activity,andyou,crossingyourarms,say:"Itdoesn'tmatter,thereare
doubtlessbetterthingstodoornotdo.Interestinlifeisindefensible
Simplicity,whatisgoingoninsideme,isstilltiresometome!"oranother
revoltingbanality.

Tomakespeeches

Justpriortotheelections,inthefirstcountrywhichdeemsitworthwhileto
proceedinthiskindofpublicexpressionofopinion,haveyourselfputonthe
ballot.Eachofushaswithinhimselfthepotentialofanorator:multicolored
loincloths,glasstrinketsofwords.ThroughSurrealismhewilltakedespair
unawaresinitspoverty.Onenight,onastage,hewill,byhimself,carveupthe
eternalheaven,thatPeaudel'ours.Hewillpromisesomuchthatanypromises
hekeepswillbeasourceofwonderanddismay.Inanswertotheclaimsofan
entirepeoplehewillgiveapartialandludicrousvote.Hewillmakethebitterest
enemiespartakeofasecretdesirewhichwillblowupthecountries.Andinthis
hewillsucceedsimplybyallowinghimselftobemovedbytheimmenseword
whichdissolvesintopityandrevolvesinhate.Incapableoffailure,hewillplay
onthevelvetofallfailures.Hewillbetrulyelected,andwomenwilllovehim
withanall-consumingpassion.

Towritefalsenovels

Whoeveryoumaybe,ifthespiritmovesyouburnafewlaurelleavesand,
withoutwishingtotendthismeagerfire,youwillbegintowriteanovel.
Surrealismwillallowyouto:allyouhavetodoissettheneedlemarked"fair"at
"action,"andtherestwillfollownaturally.Herearesomecharactersrather
differentinappearance;theirnamesinyourhandwritingareaquestionof
capitalletters,andtheywillconductthemselveswiththesameeasewith
respecttoactiveverbsasdoestheimpersonalpronoun"it"withrespectto
wordssuchas"israining,""is,""must,"etc.Theywillcommandthem,soto
speak,andwhereverobservation,reflection,andthefacultyofgeneralization
provetobeofnohelptoyou,youmayrestassuredthattheywillcredityou
withathousandintentionsyouneverhad.Thusendowedwithatinynumber
ofphysicalandmoralcharacteristics,thesebeingswhointruthoweyouso
littlewillthereafterdeviatenotoneiotafromacertainlineofconductabout
whichyouneednotconcernyourselfanyfurther.Outofthiswillresultaplot
moreorlesscleverinappearance,justifyingpointbypointthismovingor
comfortingdenouementaboutwhichyoucouldn'tcareless.Yourfalsenovel

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willsimulatetoamarvelousdegreearealnovel;youwillberich,andeveryone
willagreethat"you'vereallygotalotofguts,"sinceit'salsointhisregionthat
thissomethingislocated.

Ofcourse,byananalogousmethod,andprovidedyouignorewhatyouare
reviewing,youcansuccessfullydevoteyourselftofalseliterarycriticism.

Howtocatchtheeyeofawoman

youpassinthestreet

......................................................................................................................................................................

Againstdeath

Surrealismwillusheryouintodeath,whichisasecretsociety.Itwillglove
yourhand,buryingthereintheprofoundMwithwhichthewordMemory
begins.Donotforgettomakeproperarrangementsforyourlastwilland
testament:speakingpersonally,IaskthatIbetakentothecemeteryina
movingvan.Maymyfriendsdestroyeverylastcopyoftheprintingofthe
SpeechconcerningtheModicumofReality.

LanguagehasbeengiventomansothathemaymakeSurrealistuseofit.To
theextentthatheisrequiredtomakehimselfunderstood,hemanagesmoreor
lesstoexpresshimself,andbysodoingtofulfillcertainfunctionsculledfrom
amongthemostvulgar.Speaking,readingaletter,presentnorealproblemfor
him,providedthat,insodoing,hedoesnotsethimselfagoalabovethemean,
thatis,providedheconfineshimselftocarryingonaconversation(forthe
pleasureofconversing)withsomeone.Heisnotworriedaboutthewordsthat
aregoingtocome,noraboutthesentencewhichwillfollowafterthesentence
heisjustcompleting.Toaverysimplequestion,hewillbecapableofmakinga
lightning-likereply.Intheabsenceofminorticsacquiredthroughcontactwith
others,hecanwithoutanyadoofferanopiniononalimitednumberof
subjects;forthathedoesnotneedto"countuptoten"beforespeakingorto
formulateanythingwhateveraheadoftime.Whohasbeenabletoconvince
himthatthisfacultyofthefirstdraftwillonlydohimadisservicewhenhe
makesuphismindtoestablishmoredelicaterelationships?Thereisno
subjectaboutwhichheshouldrefusetotalk,towriteaboutprolifically.Allthat
resultsfromlisteningtooneself,fromreadingwhatonehaswritten,isthe
suspensionoftheoccult,thatadmirablehelp.Iaminnohurrytounderstand
myself(basta!Ishallalwaysunderstandmyself).Ifsuchandsuchasentence

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ofmineturnsouttobesomewhatdisappointing,atleastmomentarily,Iplace
mytrustinthefollowingsentencetoredeemitssins;Icarefullyrefrainfrom
startingitoveragainorpolishingit.Theonlythingthatmightprovefataltome
wouldbetheslightestlossofimpetus.Words,groupsofwordswhichfollow
oneanother,manifestamongthemselvesthegreatestsolidarity.Itisnotupto
metofavoronegroupovertheother.Itisuptoamiraculousequivalentto
intervene--andinterveneitdoes.

Notonlydoesthisunrestrictedlanguage,whichIamtryingtorenderforever
valid,whichseemstometoadaptitselftoalloflife'scircumstances,notonly
doesthislanguagenotdeprivemeofanyofmymeans,onthecontraryitlends
meanextraordinarylucidity,anditdoessoinanareawhereIleastexpectedit.
Ishallevengosofarastomaintainthatitinstructsmeand,indeed,Ihavehad
occasiontousesurreallywordswhosemeaningIhaveforgotten.Iwas
subsequentlyabletoverifythatthewayinwhichIhadusedthem
correspondedperfectlywiththeirdefinition.Thiswouldleaveonetobelieve
thatwedonot"learn,"thatallweeverdois"relearn."Therearefelicitousturns
ofspeechthatIhavethusfamiliarizedmyselfwith.AndIamnottalkingabout
thepoeticconsciousnessofobjectswhichIhavebeenabletoacquireonlyafter
aspiritualcontactwiththemrepeatedathousandtimesover.

TheformsofSurrealistlanguageadaptthemselvesbesttodialogue.Here,two
thoughtsconfronteachother;whileoneisbeingdelivered,theotherisbusy
withit;buthowisitbusywithit?Toassumethatitincorporatesitwithinitself
wouldbetantamounttoadmittingthatthereisatimeduringwhichitis
possibleforittolivecompletelyoffthatotherthought,whichishighly
unlikely.And,infact,theattentionitpaysiscompletelyexterior;ithasonly
timeenoughtoapproveorreject--generallyreject--withalltheconsideration
ofwhichmaniscapable.Thismodeoflanguage,moreover,doesnotallowthe
heartofthemattertobeplumbed.Myattention,preytoanentreatywhichit
cannotinalldecencyreject,treatstheopposingthoughtasanenemy;in
ordinaryconversation,it"takesitup"almostalwaysonthewords,thefigures
ofspeech,itemploys;itputsmeinapositiontoturnittogoodadvantageinmy
replybydistortingthem.Thisistruetosuchadegreethatincertain
pathologicalstatesofmind,wherethesensorialdisordersoccupythepatient's
completeattention,helimitshimself,whilecontinuingtoanswerthe
questions,toseizingthelastwordspokeninhispresenceorthelastportionof
theSurrealistsentencesometraceofwhichhefindsinhismind.

Q."Howoldareyou?"A."You."(Echolalia.)

Q."Whatisyourname?"A."Forty-fivehouses."(Gansersyndrome,orbesidethe-pointreplies.)

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Thereisnoconversationinwhichsometraceofthisdisorderdoesnotoccur.
Theefforttobesocialwhichdictatesitandtheconsiderablepracticewehaveat
itaretheonlythingswhichenableustoconcealittemporarily.Itisalsothe
greatweaknessofthebookthatitisinconstantconflictwithitsbest,bywhich
Imeanthemostdemanding,readers.IntheveryshortdialoguethatI
concoctedabovebetweenthedoctorandthemadman,itwasinfactthe
madmanwhogotthebetteroftheexchange.Because,throughhisreplies,he
obtrudesupontheattentionofthedoctorexamininghim--andbecauseheis
notthepersonaskingthequestions.Doesthismeanthathisthoughtatthis
pointisstronger?Perhaps.Heisfreenottocareanylongerabouthisageor
name.

PoeticSurrealism,whichisthesubjectofthisstudy,hasfocuseditseffortsup
tothispointonreestablishingdialogueinitsabsolutetruth,byfreeingboth
interlocutorsfromanyobligationsandpoliteness.Eachofthemsimply
pursueshissoliloquywithouttryingtoderiveanyspecialdialecticalpleasure
fromitandwithouttryingtoimposeanythingwhatsoeveruponhisneighbor.
Theremarksexchangedarenot,asisgenerallythecase,meanttodevelopsome
thesis,howeverunimportantitmaybe;theyareasdisaffectedaspossible.As
forthereplythattheyelicit,itis,inprinciple,totallyindifferenttothepersonal
prideofthepersonspeaking.Thewords,theimagesareonlysomany
springboardsforthemindofthelistener.InLesChampsmagntiques,thefirst
purelySurrealistwork,thisisthewayinwhichthepagesgroupedtogether
underthetitleBarriresmustbeconceivedof--pageswhereinSoupaultandI
showourselvestobeimpartialinterlocutors.

Surrealismdoesnotallowthosewhodevotethemselvestoittoforsakeit
whenevertheylike.Thereiseveryreasontobelievethatitactsonthemind
verymuchasdrugsdo;likedrugs,itcreatesacertainstateofneedandcanpush
mantofrightfulrevolts.Italsois,ifyoulike,anartificialparadise,andthetaste
onehasforitderivesfromBaudelaire'scriticismforthesamereasonasthe
others.Thustheanalysisofthemysteriouseffectsandspecialpleasuresitcan
produce--inmanyrespectsSurrealismoccursasanewvicewhichdoesnot
necessarilyseemtoberestrictedtothehappyfew;likehashish,ithasthe
abilitytosatisfyallmanneroftastes--suchananalysishastobeincludedin
thepresentstudy.

1.ItistrueofSurrealistimagesasitisofopiumimagesthatmandoesnot
evokethem;ratherthey"cometohimspontaneously,despotically.Hecannot
chasethemaway;forthewillispowerlessnowandnolongercontrolsthe
faculties."*(Baudelaire.)Itremainstobeseenwhetherimageshaveeverbeen
"evoked."Ifoneaccepts,asIdo,Reverdy'sdefinitionitdoesnotseempossible
tobringtogether,voluntarily,whathecalls"twodistantrealities."The

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juxtapositionismadeornotmade,andthatisthelongandtheshortofit.
Personally,Iabsolutelyrefusetobelievethat,inReverdy'swork,imagessuch
as

Inthebrook,thereisasongthatflows

or:

Dayunfoldedlikeawhitetablecloth

or:

Theworldgoesbackintoasack

revealtheslightestdegreeofpremeditation.Inmyopinion,itiserroneousto
claimthat"themindhasgraspedtherelationship"oftworealitiesinthe
presenceofeachother.Firstofall,ithasseizednothingconsciously.Itis,asit
were,fromthefortuitousjuxtapositionofthetwotermsthataparticularlight
hassprung,thelightoftheimage,towhichweareinfinitelysensitive.The
valueoftheimagedependsuponthebeautyofthesparkobtained;itis,
consequently,afunctionofthedifferenceofpotentialbetweenthetwo
conductors.Whenthedifferenceexistsonlyslightly,asinacomparison,*
(ComparetheimageintheworkofJulesRenard.)thesparkislacking.Now,it
isnotwithinman'spower,sofarasIcantell,toeffectthejuxtapositionoftwo
realitiessofarapart.Theprincipleoftheassociationofideas,suchaswe
conceiveofit,militatesagainstit.Orelsewewouldhavetoreverttoan
ellipticalart,whichReverdydeploresasmuchasI.Wearethereforeobligedto
admitthatthetwotermsoftheimagearenotdeducedonefromtheotherby
themindforthespecificpurposeofproducingthespark,thattheyarethe
simultaneousproductsoftheactivityIcallSurrealist,reason'srolebeing
limitedtotakingnoteof,andappreciating,theluminousphenomenon.

Andjustasthelengthofthesparkincreasestotheextentthatitoccursin
rarefiedgases,theSurrealistatmospherecreatedbyautomaticwriting,whichI
havewantedtoputwithinthereachofeveryone,isespeciallyconducivetothe
productionofthemostbeautifulimages.Onecanevengosofarastosaythatin
thisdizzyingracetheimagesappearliketheonlyguidepostsofthemind.By
slowdegreesthemindbecomesconvincedofthesupremerealityofthese
images.Atfirstlimitingitselftosubmittingtothem,itsoonrealizesthatthey
flatteritsreason,andincreaseitsknowledgeaccordingly.Themindbecomes
awareofthelimitlessexpanseswhereinitsdesiresaremademanifest,where
theprosandconsareconstantlyconsumed,whereitsobscuritydoesnot

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betrayit.Itgoesforward,bornebytheseimageswhichenraptureit,which
scarcelyleaveitanytimetoblowuponthefireinitsfingers.Thisisthemost
beautifulnightofall,thelightning-fillednight:day,comparedtoit,isnight.

ThecountlesskindsofSurrealistimageswouldrequireaclassificationwhichI
donotintendtomaketoday.Togroupthemaccordingtotheirparticular
affinitieswouldleadmefarafield;whatIbasicallywanttomentionistheir
commonvirtue.Forme,theirgreatestvirtue,Imustconfess,istheonethatis
arbitrarytothehighestdegree,theonethattakesthelongesttimetotranslate
intopracticallanguage,eitherbecauseitcontainsanimmenseamountof
seemingcontradictionorbecauseoneofitstermsisstrangelyconcealed;or
because,presentingitselfassomethingsensational,itseemstoendweakly
(becauseitsuddenlyclosestheangleofitscompass),orbecauseitderives
fromitselfaridiculousformaljustification,orbecauseitisofahallucinatory
kind,orbecauseitverynaturallygivestotheabstractthemaskoftheconcrete,
ortheopposite,orbecauseitimpliesthenegationofsomeelementaryphysical
property,orbecauseitprovokeslaughter.Here,inorder,areafewexamplesof
it:

Therubyofchampagne.(LAUTRAMONT)

Beautifulasthelawofarresteddevelopmentofthebreastinadults,whose
propensitytogrowthisnotinproportiontothequantityofmoleculesthat
theirorganismassimilates.(LAUTRAMONT)

Achurchstooddazzlingasabell.(PHILIPPESOUPAULT)

InRroseSlavy'ssleepthereisadwarfissuedfromawellwhocomestoeather
breadatnight.(ROBERTDESNOS)

Onthebridgethedewwiththeheadofatabbycatlullsitselftosleep.(ANDR
BRETON)

Alittletotheleft,inmyfirmamentforetold,Isee--butit'sdoubtlessbuta
mistofbloodandmurder--thegleamingglassofliberty'sdisturbances.
(LOUISARAGON)

Intheforestaflame

Thelionswerefresh.(ROBERTVITRAC)

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Thecolorofawoman'sstockingsisnotnecessarilyinthelikenessofhereyes,
whichledaphilosopherwhoitispointlesstomention,tosay:"Cephalopods
havemorereasonstohateprogressthandoquadrupeds."

(MAXMORISE)

1st.Whetherwelikeitornot,thereisenoughtheretosatisfyseveraldemands
ofthemind.Alltheseimagesseemtoattesttothefactthatthemindisripefor
somethingmorethanthebenignjoysitallowsitselfingeneral.Thisistheonly
wayithasofturningtoitsownadvantagetheidealquantityofeventswith
whichitisentrusted.*(Letusnoforgetthat,accordingtoNovalis'formula,
"thereareseriesofeventswhichrunparalleltorealevents.Menand
circumstancesgenerallymodifytheidealtrainofcircumstances,sothatis
seemsimperfect;andtheirconsequencesarealsoequallyimperfect.Thusit
waswiththeReformation;insteadofProtestantism,wegotLutheranism.")
Theseimagesshowittheextentofitsordinarydissipationandthedrawbacks
thatitoffersforit.Inthefinalanalysis,it'snotsuchabadthingforthese
imagestoupsetthemind,fortoupsetthemindistoputitinthewrong.The
sentencesIquotemakeampleprovisionforthis.Butthemindwhichrelishes
themdrawstherefromtheconvictionthatitisontherighttrack;onitsown,
themindisincapableoffindingitselfguiltyofcavil;ithasnothingtofear,
since,moreover,itattemptstoembraceeverything.

2nd.ThemindwhichplungesintoSurrealismreliveswithglowingexcitement
thebestpartofitschildhood.Forsuchamind,itissimilartothecertaintywith
whichapersonwhoisdrowningreviewsoncemore,inthespaceoflessthana
second,alltheinsurmountablemomentsofhislife.Somemaysaytomethat
theparallelisnotveryencouraging.ButIhavenointentionofencouraging
thosewhotellmethat.Fromchildhoodmemories,andfromafewothers,
thereemanatesasentimentofbeingunintegrated,andthenlaterofhaving
goneastray,whichIholdtobethemostfertilethatexists.Itisperhaps
childhoodthatcomesclosesttoone's"reallife";childhoodbeyondwhichman
hasathisdisposal,asidefromhislaissez-passer,onlyafewcomplimentary
tickets;childhoodwhereeverythingneverthelessconspirestobringaboutthe
effective,risk-freepossessionofoneself.ThankstoSurrealism,itseemsthat
opportunityknocksasecondtime.Itisasthoughwewerestillrunningtoward
oursalvation,orourperdition.Intheshadowweagainseeapreciousterror.
ThankGod,it'sstillonlyPurgatory.Withashudder,wecrosswhatthe
occultistscalldangerousterritory.InmywakeIraiseupmonstersthatare
lyinginwait;theyarenotyettooill-disposedtowardme,andIamnotlost,
sinceIfearthem.Hereare"theelephantswiththeheadsofwomenandthe
flyinglions"whichusedtomakeSoupaultandmetrembleinourbootstomeet,
hereisthe"solublefish"whichstillfrightensmeslightly.POISSON

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SOLUBLE,amInotthesolublefish,IwasbornunderthesignofPisces,and
manissolubleinhisthought!ThefloraandfaunaofSurrealismare
inadmissible.

3rd.IdonotbelieveintheestablishmentofaconventionalSurrealistpattern
anytimeinthenearfuture.Thecharacteristicscommontoallthetextsofthis
kind,includingthoseIhavejustcitedandmanyotherswhichalonecouldoffer
usalogicalanalysisandacarefulgrammaticalanalysis,donotprecludea
certainevolutionofSurrealistproseintime.Comingontheheelsofalarge
numberofessaysIhavewritteninthisveinoverthepastfiveyears,mostof
whichIamindulgentenoughtothinkareextremelydisordered,theshort
anecdoteswhichcomprisethebalanceofthisvolumeoffermeaglaringproof
ofwhatIamsaying.Idonotjudgethemtobeanymoreworthless,becauseof
that,inportrayingforthereaderthebenefitswhichtheSurrealistcontribution
isliabletomaketohisconsciousness.

Surrealistmethodswould,moreover,demandtobe

heard.Everythingisvalidwhenitcomestoobtainingthedesiredsuddenness
fromcertainassociations.ThepiecesofpaperthatPicassoandBraqueinsert
intotheirworkhavethesamevalueastheintroductionofaplatitudeintoa
literaryanalysisofthemostrigoroussort.Itisevenpermissibletoentitle
POEMwhatwegetfromthemostrandomassemblagepossible(observe,ifyou
will,thesyntax)ofheadlinesandscrapsofheadlinescutoutofthe
newspapers:

POEM

Aburstoflaughter

ofsapphireintheislandofCeylon

Themostbeautifulstraws

HAVEAFADEDCOLOR

UNDERTHELOCKS

onanisolatedfarm

FROMDAYTODAY

thepleasant

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growsworse

coffee

preachesforitssaint

THEDAILYARTISANOFYOURBEAUTY

MADAM,

apair

ofsilkstockings

isnot

Aleapintospace

ASTAG

Loveaboveall

Everythingcouldbeworkedoutsowell

PARISISABIGVILLAGE

Watchoutfor

thefirethatcovers

THEPRAYER

offairweather

Knowthat

Theultravioletrays

havefinishedtheirtask

shortandsweet

THEFIRSTWHITEPAPER

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OFCHANCE

Redwillbe

Thewanderingsinger

WHEREISHE?

inmemory

inhishouse

ATTHESUITORSBALL

Ido

asIdance

Whatpeopledid,whattheyregoingtodo

Andwecouldoffermanymanymoreexamples.Thetheater,philosophy,s
cience,criticismwouldallsucceedinfindingtheirbearingsthere.I
hastentoaddthatfutureSurrealisttechniquesdonotinterestme.

Farmoreserious,inmyopinion*(WhateverreservationsImaybeallowedto
makeconcerningresponsibilityingeneralandthemedico-legalconsiderations
whichdetermineanindividual'sdegreeofresponsibility--complete
responsibility,irresponsibility,limitedresponsibility(sic)--howeverdifficult
itmaybeformetoaccepttheprincipleofanykindofresponsibility,Iwould
liketoknowhowthefirstpunishableoffenses,theSurrealistcharacterof
whichwillbeclearlyapparent,willbejudged.Willtheaccusedbeacquitted,or
willhemerelybegiventhebenefitofthedoubtbecauseofextenuating
circumstances?It'sashamethattheviolationofthelawsgoverningthePress
istodayscarcelyrepressed,forifitwerenotwewouldsoonseeatrialofthis
sort:theaccusedhaspublishedabookwhichisanoutragetopublicdecency.
Severalofhis"mostrespectedandhonorable"fellowcitizenshavelodgeda
complaintagainsthim,andheisalsochargedwithslanderandlibel.Thereare
alsoallsortsofotherchargesagainsthim,suchasinsultinganddefamingthe
army,incitingtomurder,rape,etc.Theaccused,moreover,wastesnotimein
agreeingwiththeaccusersin"stigmatizing"mostoftheideasexpressed.His
onlydefenseisclaimingthathedoesnotconsiderhimselftobetheauthorof
hisbook,saidbookbeingnomoreandnolessthanaSurrealistconcoction
whichprecludesanyquestionofmeritorlackofmeritonthepartoftheperson

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whosignsit;further,thatallhehasdoneiscopyadocumentwithoutoffering
anyopinionthereon,andthatheisatleastasforeigntotheaccusedtextasis
thepresidingjudgehimself.

Whatistrueforthepublicationofabookwillalsoholdtrueforawholehostof
otheractsassoonasSurrealistmethodsbegintoenjoywidespreadfavor.
Whenthathappens,anewmoralitymustbesubstitutedfortheprevailing
morality,thesourceofallourtrialsandtribulations.)--Ihaveintimatedit
oftenenough--aretheapplicationsofSurrealismtoaction.Tobesure,Idonot
believeinthepropheticnatureoftheSurrealistword."Itistheoracle,the
thingsIsay."*(Rimbaud.)Yes,asmuchasIlike,butwhatoftheoracleitself?**
(Still,STILL....Wemustabsolutelygettothebottomofthis.Today,June8,
1924,aboutoneo'clock,thevoicewhisperedtome:"Bthune,Bthune."What
diditmean?IhaveneverbeentoBthune,andhaveonlythevaguestnotionas
towhereitislocatedonthemapofFrance.Bthuneevokesnothingforme,not
evenascenefromTheThreeMusketeers.IshouldhaveleftforBthune,
whereperhapstherewassomethingawaitingme;thatwouldhavebeento
simple,really.SomeonetoldmetheyhadreadinabookbyChestertonabouta
detectivewho,inordertofindsomeoneheislookingforinacertaincity,
simplyscouredfromrooftocellarthehouseswhich,fromtheoutside,seemed
somehowabnormaltohim,wereitonlyinsomeslightdetail.Thissystemisas
goodasanyother.

Similarly,in1919,Soupaultwentintoanynumberofimpossiblebuildingsto
asktheconciergewhetherPhilippeSoupaultdidinfactlivethere.Hewouldnot
havebeensurprised,Isuspect,byanaffirmativereply.Hewouldhavegoneand
knockedonhisdoor.)Men'spietydoesnotfoolme.TheSurrealistvoicethat
shookCumae,Dodona,andDelphiisnothingmorethanthevoicewhich
dictatesmylessirasciblespeechestome.Mytimemustnotbeitstime,why
shouldthisvoicehelpmeresolvethechildishproblemofmydestiny?I
pretend,unfortunately,toactinaworldwhere,inordertotakeintoaccountits
suggestions,Iwouldbeobligedtoresorttotwokindsofinterpreters,oneto
translateitsjudgementsforme,theother,impossibletofind,totransmittomy
fellowmenwhateversenseIcouldmakeoutofthem.Thisworld,inwhichI
endurewhatIendure(dontgosee),thismodernworld,Imean,whatthedevil
doyouwantmetodowithit?PerhapstheSurrealistvoicewillbestilled,Ihave
givenuptryingtokeeptrackofthosewhohavedisappeared.Ishallnolonger
enterinto,howeverbriefly,themarvelousdetaileddescriptionofmyyearsand
mydays.IshallbelikeNijinskiwhowastakenlastyeartotheRussianballet
anddidnotrealizewhatspectacleitwashewasseeing.Ishallbealone,very
alonewithinmyself,indifferenttoalltheworldsballets.WhatIhavedone,
whatIhaveleftundone,Igiveittoyou.

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AndeversinceIhavehadagreatdesiretoshowforbearancetoscientific
musing,howeverunbecoming,inthefinalanalysis,fromeverypointofview.
Radios?Fine.Syphilis?Ifyoulike.Photography?Idontseeanyreasonwhy
not.Thecinema?Threecheersfordarkenedrooms.War?Gaveusagoodlaugh.
Thetelephone?Hello.Youth?Charmingwhitehair.Trytomakemesaythank
you:"Thankyou."Thankyou.Ifthecommonmanhasahighopinionofthings
whichproperlyspeakingbelongtotherealmofthelaboratory,itisbecause
suchresearchhasresultedinthemanufactureofamachineorthediscoveryof
someserumwhichthemaninthestreetviewsasaffectinghimdirectly.Heis
quitesurethattheyhavebeentryingtoimprovehislot.Iamnotquitesureto
whatextentscholarsaremotivatedbyhumanitarianaims,butitdoesnotseem
tomethatthisfactorconstitutesaverymarkeddegreeofgoodness.Iam,of
course,referringtotruescholarsandnottothevulgarizersandpopularizersof
allsortswhotakeoutpatents.Inthisrealmasinanyother,Ibelieveinthepure
Surrealistjoyofthemanwho,forewarnedthatallothersbeforehimhave
failed,refusestoadmitdefeat,setsofffromwhateverpointhechooses,along
anyotherpathsaveareasonableone,andarriveswhereverhecan.Suchand
suchanimage,bywhichhedeemsitopportunetoindicatehisprogressand
whichmayresult,perhaps,inhisreceivingpublicacclaim,istome,Imust
confess,amatterofcompleteindifference.Noristhematerialwithwhichhe
mustperforceencumberhimself;hisglasstubesormymetallicfeathersAs
forhismethod,IamwillingtogiveitasmuchcreditasIdomine.Ihaveseen
theinventorofthecutaneousplantarreflexatwork;hemanipulatedhis
subjectswithoutrespite,itwasmuchmorethanan"examination"hewas
employing;itwasobviousthathewasfollowingnosetplan.Hereandtherehe
formulatedaremark,distantly,withoutnonethelesssettingdownhisneedle,
whilehishammerwasneverstill.Helefttoothersthefutiletaskofcuring
patients.Hewaswhollyconsumedbyanddevotedtothatsacredfever.

Surrealism,suchasIconceiveofit,assertsourcompletenonconformism
clearlyenoughsothattherecanbenoquestionoftranslatingit,atthetrialof
therealworld,asevidenceforthedefense.Itcould,onthecontrary,onlyserve
tojustifythecompletestateofdistractionwhichwehopetoachievehere
below.Kantsabsentmindednessregardingwomen,Pasteurs
absentmindednessabout"grapes,"Curiesabsentmindednesswithrespectto
vehicles,areinthisregardprofoundlysymptomatic.Thisworldisonlyvery
relativelyintunewiththought,andincidentsofthiskindareonlythemost
obviousepisodesofawarinwhichIamproudtobeparticipating."Cemonde
nestquetrsrelativementlamesuredelapenseetlesincidentsdecegenre
nesontquelespisodesjusquicilesplusmarquantsduneguerre
dindpendencelaquellejemefaisgloiredeparticiper."Surrealismisthe
"invisibleray"whichwillonedayenableustowinoutoverouropponents.

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Surrealist Manifesto wikilivres.ca

"Youarenolongertrembling,carcass."Thissummertherosesareblue;the
woodisofglass.Theearth,drapedinitsverdantcloak,makesaslittle
impressionuponmeasaghost.Itislivingandceasingtolivewhichare
imaginarysolutions.Existenceiselsewhere.

OriginalURL:

http://wikilivres.ca/wiki/Surrealist_Manifesto

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