“Listening to Madame Michel and seeing her cry, but above all seeing how it made her feel better to be able to tell her story to me, I understood something. I understood that I was suffering because I couldn’t make anyone else around me feel better. I understood that I have a grudge against Papa, Maman and above all Colombe because I’m incapable of being useful to them, because there’s nothing I can do for them. They are already too far gone in their sickness, and I am too weak. I can see their symptoms clearly but I’m not skilled to treat them and so as a result that makes me as sick as they are, only I don’t see it. Whereas when I was holding Madame Michel’s hand I could feel how I was sick, too. And one thing is sure, no matter what: I won’t get any better by punishing the people I can’t heal.”
Quote by Muriel Barbery
Work
This novel intertwines the lives of a reclusive museum curator and a young, troubled schoolgirl, revealing their shared appreciation for the beauty of art and the complexities of life. The narrative delves into themes of isolation, intellectual curiosity, and the search for meaning in a modern world. more
Author
Muriel Barbery, born on May 28, 1969, is a renowned French novelist. Her works are known for their unique perspective and profound thinking, which have won her a wide audience. more
You May Also Like
“博士は息子を、ルートと呼んだ。「どんな数字でも嫌がらずに自分の中にかくまってやる、実に寛大な記号、ルートだよ」”
“~ It is in the feeling of loss that one can find one's fullness of who they are ~”
“~ What gifts will you share today as Mother Earth shares with you? ~”
“Treat yourself like the priceless, flawless, incomparable jewel that you are this Valentine’s Day!”
“Forward is not the advancement of our feet, but the holding of our hands.”
“Intelligence combined with kindness are the purest forms of beauty.”