Flaubert (1821~1880), a famous French writer, wrote many works in his lifetime, including the novel "Madame Bovary", etc., and is regarded as an important representative of French realist literature in the 19th century.
Here are 10 famous quotes from Flaubert:
1. The most glorious day in a person's life is not the day of success, but the day when the challenge of life arises from lament and despair, and the day when he moves bravely towards the will.
Flaubert believed that the most glorious moment of life was not just standing at the pinnacle of honor, but the moment when he struggled in the abyss and was reborn in defeat. Even if you are surrounded by darkness and your heart is surrounded by lamentation and despair, you can summon up the courage to challenge fate, and such tenacity and courage are the true light of life.
2. Ignorance is the wave of arrogance.
Flaubert believed that arrogance leads us to blind self-confidence, ignoring our own limitations, and thus falling into the quagmire of ignorance. True wisdom comes from the awe of knowledge and the exploration of the unknown.
3. Behind every smile is a tired yawn.
Flaubert believed that the social lubricant of smiling often obscures true emotion. Behind the smile, there may be tiredness, helplessness and even boredom, and this subtle emotional shift is as difficult to suppress as a yawn, but it has to be suppressed in social situations.
4. True love is the "unconditional surrender" of both parties to each other.
In Flaubert's view, this surrender is not about surrendering to the other, but about the complete openness and acceptance of each other in the depths of their hearts. In true love, both parties are willing to let go of themselves and give everything for each other, without asking for anything in return, regardless of gains and losses. This unconditional surrender is the highest tribute to love, which transcends the bondage of the world and allows two hearts to cling to each other in an endless time and space.
5. It is not so much about doing good for the sake of loving others, but about honoring oneself.
Flaubert believed that the motivation for doing good should not only be motivated by love for others, but also by respect and pursuit of self-worth. By doing good, we demonstrate our character and conscience, and demonstrate our commitment to morality and goodness. Such actions not only benefit others, but also sublimate and satisfy our own hearts.
6. The poorest is talentless, and the cheapest is unambitious.
Flaubert believed that without talent, a person may find it difficult to gain a foothold in society and fail to realize his or her own value, and without ambition, he may lose the direction and motivation to move forward, and become a mediocre person.
7. To get angry with a fool is to risk making us a fool ourselves.
Flaubert believed that anger and stupidity are always inseparable, and that when we are provoked by the actions of stupid people, we lose our minds and fall into the same stupid situation. Arguing with stupid people will only lower our intelligence and character and make us as stupid as they are.
8. Our ignorance of history leads us to slander our own times. People always do.
Flaubert believed that each era has its own unique value, but because we often lack a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of history, it is easy to misunderstand and prejudice the present. This ignorance leads us to blindly criticize and denigrate our own time, while ignoring the precious wealth it contains.
9. The poor man who is blind to the desires of reason is just as right as the serious man who is inclined to reason.
Flaubert believed that reason and desire in human nature are often in a state of play, sometimes desire prevails and people make blind choices, and sometimes reason prevails and makes people think more carefully. In either case, it is a true manifestation of human nature.
10. The greatness of a writer lies in portraying ordinary things as extraordinary things.
Flaubert believed that everyday life is trivial and mundane, but that a writer can give new life and meaning to these mundane things through keen insight and rich imagination, making them extraordinary and engaging. This is the greatness of writers and the charm of literature and art.