Judge the goodness of a book by the energy of the punches it has given you. I believe the greatest characteristic of genius, is, above all, force.

Quote by Gustave Flaubert

Topics: Gustave Flaubert Quotes

One arrives at style only with atrocious effort, with fanatical and devoted stubbornness.

One arrives at style only with atrocious effort, with fanatical and devoted stubbornness.

Oh, if I had been loved at the age of seventeen, what an idiot I...

Oh, if I had been loved at the age of seventeen, what an idiot I...

What an elder sees sitting; the young can't see standing.

What an elder sees sitting; the young can't see standing.

Writing is a dog's life, but the only life worth living.

Writing is a dog's life, but the only life worth living.

A superhuman will is needed in order to write, and I am only a man.

A superhuman will is needed in order to write, and I am only a man.

Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original...

Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original...

I will cover you with love when next I see you, with caresses, with ecstasy....

I will cover you with love when next I see you, with caresses, with ecstasy....

Language is a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance...

Language is a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance...

There are neither good nor bad subjects. From the point of view of pure Art,...

There are neither good nor bad subjects. From the point of view of pure Art,...

In the dark room a cloud of yellow dust flew from beneath the tool like...

In the dark room a cloud of yellow dust flew from beneath the tool like...

Of all possible debauches, traveling is the greatest that I know; that's the one they...

Of all possible debauches, traveling is the greatest that I know; that's the one they...

Here is true immorality: ignorance and stupidity; the devil is nothing but this. His name...

Here is true immorality: ignorance and stupidity; the devil is nothing but this. His name...

Stupidity is something unshakable; nothing attacks it without breaking itself against it; it is of...

Stupidity is something unshakable; nothing attacks it without breaking itself against it; it is of...

The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but...

The most glorious moments in your life are not the so-called days of success, but...

The cult of art gives pride; one never has too much of it.

The cult of art gives pride; one never has too much of it.

Nothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in.

Nothing is more humiliating than to see idiots succeed in enterprises we have failed in.

I am a man-pen. I feel through the pen, because of the pen.

I am a man-pen. I feel through the pen, because of the pen.

I love good sense above all, perhaps because I have none.

I love good sense above all, perhaps because I have none.

One mustn't ask apple trees for oranges, France for sun, women for love, life for...

One mustn't ask apple trees for oranges, France for sun, women for love, life for...

Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times.

Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times.