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Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert Quotes

Writer

Gustave Flaubert, born on December 12, 1821 and died on May 8, 1880, was a prominent French writer of the 19th century. Known for his exquisite literary skills and profound psychological portrayals, Flaubert is best remembered for his masterpiece 'Madame Bovary'.

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Famous Gustave Flaubert Quotes

“The more ideas they had the more they suffered.”

Ideas Suffering

Book:Bouvard and Pécuchet with The Dictionary of Received Ideas

Source: Bouvard and Pécuchet with The Dictionary of Received Ideas

“L'Ide e seule est e ternelle et ne cessaire. The idea alone is eternal and necessary.”

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“The finest works of art are those in which there is the least matter. The closer expression comes to thought, the more the word clings to the idea and disappears, the more beautiful the work of art.”

Thinking Art Ideas Matter Beautiful Artist Language Expression Disappear Thoughtful Works Of Art Finest

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“Each dream finds at last its form; there is a drink for every thirst, and love for every heart. And there is no better way to spend your life than in the unceasing preoccupation of an idea--of an ideal.”

Way Heart Art Ideas Dream Lasts Form Artist Drink Ideals And Love Thirst Idealism Better Ways Preoccupation

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“The style, which is something I take to heart, is getting on my nerves horribly. It frustrates and torments me. I have days when Iam sick about it and nights when it gives me a fever. The more I go at it the more I find myself incapable of conveying the Idea.”

Giving Heart Ideas Night Suffering Literature Work Style Sick Give Me Nerves Incapable Torment Fever Conveying

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“DAGUERREOTYPE Will take the place of painting. (See PHOTOGRAPHY.) (From The Dictionary of Received Ideas, assembled from notes Flaubert made in the 1870s.)”

Made Ideas Painting Photography Notes Dictionary Daguerreotypes

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“What better occupation, really, than to spend the evening at the fireside with a book, with the wind beating on the windows and the lamp burning bright...Haven't you ever happened to come across in a book some vague notion that you've had, some obscure idea that returns from afar and that seems to express completely your most subtle feelings?”

Book Ideas Feelings Seems Happened Havens Wind Return Window Notion Evening Burning Subtle Occupation Vague Obscure Lamps Afar Burning Bright

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“I go dreaming into the future, where I see nothing, nothing. I have no plans, no idea, no project, and, what is worse, no ambition. Something – the eternal ‘what’s the use?’ – sets its bronze barrier across every avenue that I open up in the realm of hypothesis.”

Ideas Use Dream Plans Depression Ambition Projects Eternal No Idea Realms Barriers Hypothesis Avenues Bronze Every Avenue

Book:The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857

Source: The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857

“Better to work for yourself alone. You do as you like and follow your own ideas, you admire yourself and please yourself: isn’t that the main thing? And then the public is so stupid. Besides, who reads? And what do they read? And what do they admire?”

Ideas Stupid Please Admire Please Yourself

Book:The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857

Source: The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857

“The idea of bringing someone into the world fills me with horror. I would curse myself if I were a father. A son of mine! Oh no, no, no! May my entire flesh perish and may I transmit to no one the aggravations and the disgrace of existence.”

Ifs World May Ideas Father Existence Mines Son Horror Flesh Curse Disgrace Aggravation Transmit

Author:Gustave Flaubert

“What a heavy oar the pen is, and what a strong current ideas are to row in!”

Ideas Strong Currents Heavy Pens Oar

Book:The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857

Source: The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857

About the Author

Born: December 12, 1821
Died: May 8, 1880
Known for: Writer
Quotes: 421

Related Topics

Literature Art Writing Men Heart Book Love Life Soul Ifs Beautiful Artist Passion World Dream Feels Long Thinking Giving Ideas

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Books & Sources

madame bovaryRelated source material

The Letters of Gustave Flaubert: 1830-1857Related source material

Bouvard and PécuchetRelated source material

Madame Bovary: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)Related source material

Sentimental EducationRelated source material

Early WritingsRelated source material

Madame Bovary: Patterns of Provincial LifeRelated source material

NovemberRelated source material

Delphi Complete Works of Gustave Flaubert (Illustrated)Related source material

Dictionary of Accepted IdeasRelated source material

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