Inspirational Quotes by John Addington Symonds (English Writer)

John Addington Symonds Jr. (1840–93) was an English poet and literary critic. A cultural historian, he was known for his work on the Renaissance and numerous biographies of writers and artists.

Born in Bristol, Symonds was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he won the Newdigate Prize for poetry and was elected a Fellow of Magdalen College in 1862. His Introduction to the Study of Dante (1872) was followed by Studies of the Greek Poets (1873–76,) his remarkable Renaissance in Italy (6 vols., 1875–86,) and Shakespeare’s Predecessors in the English Drama (1884.)

Symonds also penned captivating travel sketches capturing his experiences in Italy and other destinations. He delved into monographs on distinguished literary figures such as Percy Bysshe Shelley, Philip Sidney, and Ben Jonson. Furthermore, he skillfully translated the Sonnets of Michelangelo and Campanella in 1878 and Benvenuto Cellini’s captivating autobiography.

Unfortunately, Symonds’s life was plagued by tuberculosis, compelling him to seek solace in Italy and Switzerland for his health. As his final contribution, he created a comprehensive biography of Michelangelo in 1892, composed some poignant verses, and shared a vivid account of his time spent in Davos, Switzerland.

Despite being married with children, Symonds advocated for male love, encompassing homosexuality and even relationships involving pederasty and equality. He eloquently referred to this concept as “l’amour de l’impossible” or the love of the impossible. However, during his lifetime, he refrained from openly publishing his writings on homosexuality. It was only after his death that his letters and diaries, unveiling his personal experiences and contemplations, were compiled and released as The Memoirs of John Addington Symonds (1984.)

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