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Pure psychic automatism, by which one seeks to express, be it verbally, in writing, or in any other manner, (is) the real working of the mind. Dictated by the unconsciousness, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, and free from aesthetic or moral preoccupations.

— André Breton

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More quotes by André Breton

Beauty will be CONVULSIVE or not at all.

Breton's novel Nadja (1928)

Children set off each day without a worry in the world. Everything is near at hand; the worst material conditions are fine. The woods are white or black, one will never sleep.

Le Manifeste du Surréalisme, Andre Breton (1924)

Under his [ Marc Chagall ] sole impulse metaphor made its triumphal entry into modern painting.

It is not the fear of madness which will oblige us to leave the flag of imagination furled.

Le Manifeste du Surréalisme, Andre Breton (1924)

La beauté sera CONVULSIVE ou ne sera pas.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: André Breton (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.