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

Style is as much under the words as in the words. It is as much...

Style is as much under the words as in the words. It is as much...

Madame Bovary is myself.

Madame Bovary is myself.

Of all lies, art is the least untrue.

Of all lies, art is the least untrue.

The more humanity advances, the more it is degraded.

The more humanity advances, the more it is degraded.

One mustn't always believe that feeling is everything. In the arts, it is nothing without...

One mustn't always believe that feeling is everything. In the arts, it is nothing without...

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...

Human speech is like a cracked cauldron on which we bang out tunes that make...

Human speech is like a cracked cauldron on which we bang out tunes that make...

But the disparaging of those we love always alienates us from them to some extent....

But the disparaging of those we love always alienates us from them to some extent....

Happiness is a monstrosity! Punished are those who seek it.

Happiness is a monstrosity! Punished are those who seek it.

Life must be a constant education; one must learn everything, from speaking to dying.

Life must be a constant education; one must learn everything, from speaking to dying.

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

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

Poetry is as precise a thing as geometry.

Poetry is as precise a thing as geometry.

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....

The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.

The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.

Earth has its boundaries, but human stupidity is limitless.

Earth has its boundaries, but human stupidity is limitless.

The future is the worst thing about the present.

The future is the worst thing about the present.

Art requires neither complaisance nor politeness; nothing but faith, faith and freedom.

Art requires neither complaisance nor politeness; nothing but faith, faith and freedom.

I have come to have the firm conviction that vanity is the basis of everything,...

I have come to have the firm conviction that vanity is the basis of everything,...

What is the beautiful, if not the impossible.

What is the beautiful, if not the impossible.

All one's inventions are true, you can be sure of that. Poetry is as exact...

All one's inventions are true, you can be sure of that. Poetry is as exact...