O reason, reason, abstract phantom of the waking state, I had already expelled you from my dreams, now I have reached a point where those dreams are about to become fused with apparent realities: now there is only room here for myself.

The quote "O reason, reason, abstract phantom of the waking state," by Louis Aragon, explores the tension between reason and dreams, and how the boundaries between them blur in the pursuit of self-discovery. Aragon, a French poet and a leading figure in the Surrealist movement, addresses the idea that reason—which is often associated with logic and the waking state—is an illusion or construct that doesn't fully capture the complexity of human experience. In the context of his writing, he sees reason as something external and limiting, a "phantom" that must be expelled to embrace deeper, more authentic truths.

Aragon’s declaration that he had already expelled reason from his dreams suggests a desire to move beyond conventional, rational thought and enter a state where emotions, intuition, and unconscious desires take precedence. His words imply a shift from the structured, logical world into one that embraces the mystical, the irrational, and the fantastical. The fusion of dreams with apparent realities symbolizes the collapse of the boundaries between the conscious and unconscious realms, a theme central to Surrealism.

The origin of this quote is rooted in Aragon’s Surrealist ideals, which sought to break free from traditional rationality and explore the unconscious mind through art and literature. For Surrealists, the dream state was a place where the mind could freely express itself, unbound by societal expectations and rational constraints. Aragon’s statement reflects his desire to live in a world where these distinctions no longer exist and the self is at the center of experience.

In this light, Aragon's quote speaks to the inner conflict between rational thought and emotional depth, and the search for a more profound self-awareness. It emphasizes a journey toward self-realization that transcends the limits of reason, ultimately creating a world where individuality and self-expression are unencumbered by the traditional rules of logic.