There are neither good nor bad subjects. From the point of view of pure Art, you could almost establish it as an axiom that the subject is irrelevant, style itself being an absolute manner of seeing things.

Quote by Gustave Flaubert

Topics: Gustave Flaubert Quotes

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

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

She (Madame Bovary) had that indefinable beauty that comes from happiness, enthusiasm, success - a...

She (Madame Bovary) had that indefinable beauty that comes from happiness, enthusiasm, success - a...

Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.

Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who cannot attain it in anything.

Caught up in life, you see it badly. You suffer from it or enjoy it...

Caught up in life, you see it badly. You suffer from it or enjoy it...

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...

The future is the worst thing about the present.

The future is the worst thing about the present.

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...

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...

The more humanity advances, the more it is degraded.

The more humanity advances, the more it is degraded.

The only way to avoid being unhappy is to close yourself up in Art and...

The only way to avoid being unhappy is to close yourself up in Art and...

Woman is a vulgar animal from whom man has created an excessively beautiful ideal.

Woman is a vulgar animal from whom man has created an excessively beautiful ideal.

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...

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.

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

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

I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with...

I believe that if one always looked at the skies, one would end up with...

The true poet for me is a priest. As soon as he dons the cassock,...

The true poet for me is a priest. As soon as he dons the cassock,...

Success is a consequence and must not be a goal.

Success is a consequence and must not be a goal.

The artist must be in his work as God is in creation, invisible and all-powerful;...

The artist must be in his work as God is in creation, invisible and all-powerful;...

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...

Anything becomes interesting if you look at it long enough.

Anything becomes interesting if you look at it long enough.