Quotes from Andre Gide

Take upon oneself as much humanity as possible. There is the correct formula.

I let the most antagonistic proposals of my nature gradually come to agreement without violence. Suppressing the dialogue in oneself really amounts to stopping the development of life. Everything leads to harmony. The fiercer and more persistant the discord had been, the broader reconciliations blossoms.

When one gets up there, out of sight of all culture, of all vegetation, of everything that reminds one of the avarice and stupidity of men, one feels inclined to shout, to sing, to laugh, to cry, to fly, to dive head foremost into the sky, or to fall on one's knees.

Do not pose in your own presence. Id est: do not affect the qualities and virtues you would like to have but have not.

Take me away from here and give me some reason for living. I have none left. I have freed myself. That may be. But what does it signify? This objectless liberty is a burden to me.

Van de duizend vormen van het leven kan ieder er maar één kennen. Het geluk van een ander benijden is dwaasheid; men zou er toch niets mee weten te doen. Het geluk wil geen confectiegoed zijn, maar een pak op maat.

When one talks it's in order to be understood.

I think he must have made my mother very unhappy, and yet he loved her—that is, if he ever really loved anyone.

My happiness is made of fervour. Through the medium of all things without distinction, I have passionately worshipped

De armoede van de mens is een slaaf; om te eten aanvaardt ze werk waarin ze geen vreugde heeft; alle werk dat niet vreugdevol is, is verwerpelijk, dacht ik, en ik betaalde de rust van velen. Ik zei: 'Werk maar niet; je vindt het vervelend.' Ik droomde voor ieder van hen van de vrijheid waarzonder niets nieuws kan ontbloeien, geen enkel kwaad, geen enkele kunst.

If I were to cry to Thee, my God, with the impulsive faith of a child and with the heavenly tongues of angels...

Daarna gaf ik me maar over aan mijn lot, wat bijna altijd het beste is wat je kunt doen.

C'était une âme et un corps où n'entrait jamais l'aiguillon.

Je sens en moi, confusément, des aspirations extraordinaires, des sortes de lames de fond, des mouvements, des agitations incompréhensibles, et que je ne veux pas chercher à comprendre, que je ne veux même pas observer, par crainte de les empêcher de se produire.

I used to imagine love as something volcanic

The most beautiful things are those that madness prompts and reason writes.

One wants to deceive people, and one is so much occupied with seeming, that one ends by not knowing what one really is.…

Exist? volupt??i neînsemnate care au fost pentru noi acre cum sunt poamele m?runte, de furat, de pe marginea drumurilor.

Niets staat geluk meer in de weg dan de herinnering aan geluk.

Natanael, am s?-È›i vorbesc despre aÈ™tept?ri. Am v?zut câmpia dup? arÈ™iÈ›a verii, aÈ™teptând; aÈ™teptând un pic de ploaie. Praful de pe drumuri devenise prea uÈ™or È™i fiecare adiere îl stârnea. Nu mai era nici m?car o dorin??; era o temere. P?mântul cr?pa de secet? pentru a primi mai bine ploaia. Miresmele florilor de câmpie deveneau aproape de nesuportat. Totul leÈ™ina sub soare.

Cea mai m?runt? clip? de via?? e mai tare ca moartea ?i o neag?.

The need of showing myself to be confident and perfectly at ease, precisely when I am least so. Talked much too much, as I am inclined to do after a period of solitude, losing self-control; for I was aware that I was talking too much, but could not check myself. In order to speak well, I need to feel that I am being listened to.

Le rêve de demain est une joie, mais la joie de demain en est une autre, et rien heureusement ne ressemble au rêve qu'on s'en était fait; car c'est différemment que vaut chaque chose.

Am tr?it într-o uluire p?tima??.