Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1849) was an impressive writer, poet and journalist born in Boston, United States. He is considered one of the best authors in the genre of the short story and the gothic novel.

His horror stories and his foray into science fiction brought him great recognition posthumously, but he lived through hardship and misery during his short but exceptional life. Near his death, he wanted to found his own newspaper, called “The Stylus”, although he failed in his attempt.

Amazing phrases by Edgar Allan Poe

Representative of surrealism, Poe influenced different genres of prose throughout the world. In order to get closer to his work and his unparalleled mysticism, we have decided to pay tribute to this literary genius through the 25 best phrases of Edgar Allan Poe .

Will you join us on this journey into darkness?

1. Whatever their kinship, beauty, in its supreme development, inevitably induces sensitive souls to tears.

A phrase that could well be the description of Stendhal Syndrome.

2. In the selfless love of an animal, in the sacrifice of oneself, there is something that reaches directly to the heart of the one who has often had occasion to experience the mean friendship and fragile fidelity of the natural Man.

The purity of the animal against the cruelty of the human being.

3. When a madman seems completely sensible, it’s time to put him in a straitjacket.

Ironic phrase that can be interpreted in different ways.

4. Corruption of taste is part of the dollar industry and matches it.

About the crematorium and its influence on our lives.

5. Men of genius are far more abundant than they are supposed to be. In fact, in order to fully appreciate the work of what we call genius, it is necessary to possess all the genius it took to produce the work.

About the limitless creativity of the mind of geniuses.

6. It is not truly brave that man who fears to appear or to be a coward when it suits him.

Cowardice is the worst defect you can have.

7. Science has not yet taught us whether madness is or is not the most sublime of intelligence.

One of those crazy phrases that leaves no one indifferent.

8. It is perhaps in music that the soul comes closest to the great end for which it fights when it is inspired by poetic feeling: the creation of supernatural beauty.

Great line about music and its unparalleled aesthetic power.

9. In criticism I will be courageous, severe and absolutely fair to friends and enemies. Nothing will change this purpose.

The fairness of one’s opinion must be unshakable.

10. All works of art must begin at the end.

A curious reflection by Edgar Allan Poe.

11. If I were asked to define the term art in a few words, I would call it the reproduction of what the senses perceive in nature through the veil of the soul.

In one of his most famous sentences, Edgar Allan Poe tells us his opinion about what is art.

12. Everything we see or seem is only a dream within a dream.

Could existence be a mere concatenation of dreams? Perhaps.

13. I have no faith in human perfection. Man is more active now, not happier, not more intelligent, than he was 6000 years ago.

Despite technical progress, human existence continues to be tainted by the same idleness, vanity and inaction.

14. It is doubtful that the human race will succeed in creating an enigma that human ingenuity itself will not solve.

At that crossroads lies human thought.

15. Death is taken with courage and then invited for a drink.

With chivalry and gentleness.

16. I went crazy, with long intervals of horrible sanity.

One of Edgar Allan Poe’s most remembered phrases for its brilliance.

17. I have great faith in fools, self-confidence my friends call it.

For an inveterate pessimist like Poe, any hint of grandiloquence was a real nonsense.

18. Believe in only half of what you see and none of what you hear.

About gullibility.

19. The only way for a man to keep his freedom is to be always ready to die for it.

Passion for life is a sine qua non condition for not seeing one’s freedom taken away.

20. Perhaps it is the very simplicity of the matter that leads us into error.

Sometimes Ockhan’s knife just doesn’t work.

21. The death of a beautiful woman is undoubtedly the most poetic subject in the world.

As Poe proposes, it is a fact that brings together several elements of special poetic and aesthetic significance.

22. Every movement, whatever its cause, is creative.

Creative forces, always dynamic.

23. Do we not have in us a perpetual inclination, despite the excellence of our judgment, to violate what is the Law, simply because we understand that it is the Law?

On the human propensity to break the rules imposed.