Alejo Carpentier Quotes, born December 26, 1904, in Lausanne, Switzerland, and raised in Havana, Cuba, was a Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist who profoundly shaped Latin American literature during its “boom” period. A pioneer of magical realism, he developed the concept of “lo real maravilloso” (the marvelous real), blending Latin America’s vibrant history and culture with surreal elements in works like The Kingdom of This World (1949), The Lost Steps (1953), and Explosion in a Cathedral (1962). A classically trained pianist, Carpentier infused his writing with musicality, collaborated with figures like Igor Stravinsky, and influenced writers like Gabriel García Márquez. His novels, translated into over 20 languages, have sold millions globally. These 15 quotes—sourced from his novels, essays, public statements, and posts on X—reflect his insights on humanity, art, history, and the marvelous, capturing his lyrical and visionary voice.
15 Alejo Carpentier Quotes
- “Now he understood that a man never knows for whom he suffers and hopes. He suffers and hopes and toils for people he will never know, and who, in turn, will suffer and hope and toil for others who will not be happy either, for man always seeks a happiness far beyond that which is meted out to him.” (The Kingdom of This World, 1949, p. 103)
- “In America everything is fantastical.” (The Kingdom of This World, 1949, p. 78)
- “The truth was much more beautiful.” (The Kingdom of This World, 1949, p. 92)
- “A day will come when men will discover an alphabet in the eyes of chalcedonies, in the markings of the moth, and will learn in astonishment that every spotted snail has always been a poem.” (The Lost Steps, 1953, p. 145)
- “How hard it is to become a man again when one has ceased to be a man.” (The Lost Steps, 1953, p. 189)
- “I studied harmony and composition in a very spontaneous manner.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “From the beginning, the sensation of the marvelous presupposes faith.” (The Kingdom of This World, 1949, Prologue, p. 7)
- “No hay más tierra prometida que la que el hombre puede encontrar en sí mismo.” (Explosion in a Cathedral, 1962, p. 234)
- “Una revolución no se argumenta: se hace.” (Explosion in a Cathedral, 1962, p. 178)
- “El Dios de los blancos ordena el crimen. Nuestros dioses nos piden venganza.” (The Kingdom of This World, 1949, p. 67)
- “Y así transcurría el tiempo, en aquellos días finales de un Siglo de las Luces que parecía haber durado más de trescientos años, por las tantas y tantas cosas que en él habían acontecido.” (Explosion in a Cathedral, 1962, p. 301)
- “Además, Ti Noel nunca estaba solo aunque estuviese solo. Desde hacía mucho tiempo había adquirido el arte de conversar con las sillas, las ollas, o bien con una vaca, una guitarra, o con su propia sombra.” (The Kingdom of This World, 1949, p. 89)
- “La Creación no es algo divertido, y todos lo admiten por instinto, aceptando el papel asignado a cada cual en la vasta tragedia de lo creado.” (The Lost Steps, 1953, p. 167)
- “The thunder traveled over the ship, from west to east, with prolonged reverberations, before it moved away with its clouds, leaving the sea, by mid-afternoon, bathed in a strange auroral light, which turned its as smooth and iridescent as a mountain lake.” (Explosion in a Cathedral, 1962, p. 123)
- “Es preciso que el talento fructifique, y esparza sus frutos por el mundo.” (Post on X, @cafemartiano, 2024-04-24)
These Alejo Carpentier quotes weave the marvelous with human struggle, urging us to find poetry in reality and purpose in existence. Which quote stirs your imagination? Share it in the comments and keep Carpentier’s literary legacy alive!
Emma Thompson
Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!
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