Edmond De Goncourt Quotes

Powerful Edmond De Goncourt for Daily Growth

About Edmond De Goncourt

Edmond de Goncourt (February 15, 1822 – December 7, 1896), a prominent figure in French literature, was born into an aristocratic family in Paris. Along with his brother Jules, he formed the artistic duo known as the Goncourt brothers. Their shared life and collaboration significantly impacted French culture, particularly in the realms of literature, art, and interior design. Edmond de Goncourt's upbringing, surrounded by wealth and social prominence, gave him an insider's perspective on high society that would later inform his work. However, his artistic sensibilities were not immediately recognized; at 17, he followed his father's wishes and joined the army, serving in Algeria from 1840 to 1843. It was during this time that he began to develop a passion for art, literature, and Orientalist themes. Upon returning to France, Edmond pursued a career as an artist, first painting and then turning to writing. He collaborated with his brother Jules on numerous projects, including the influential literary journal La Revue des Lettres et des Arts (1857–1866), which featured works by Gustave Flaubert, George Sand, and Victor Hugo. In 1865, the Goncourt brothers published "Germinie Lacerteux," their first joint novel. However, it was their masterpiece, "La Maison Tellier" (The House of Tellier), serialised from 1874 to 1875 and published as a book in 1876 as "La Fille Elisa" (The Young Lady Elise), that cemented their reputation. Renamed "Germinie Lacerteux" for its English-language publication, this novel offers a critical examination of French society during the Second Empire. Edmond de Goncourt's later works, including the posthumously published "Journal" (1896–1930), which chronicled their daily lives and artistic pursuits, further solidified his legacy as a pioneer of modernist literature. His keen observations, vivid descriptions, and unapologetic portrayal of society continue to influence writers today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Art is a journey from nothingness to being."

This quote by Edmond de Goncourt implies that art, in essence, is a creative process where ideas or concepts (nothingness) are transformed into tangible expressions or beings. It suggests that the act of creating art is a journey towards giving life, meaning, or form to what was previously abstract or non-existent, thereby imbuing it with existence and substance. In other words, the artist starts with an idea or inspiration (nothingness), and through the artistic process, gives it being or reality.

"Beauty is the purgation of superfluities."

This quote by Edmond de Goncourt suggests that beauty emerges from a process of refinement, eliminating unnecessary elements to reveal the essence or purity within. In other words, beauty is achieved when we strip away non-essential distractions and focus on what truly matters, leaving only what is necessary and impactful.

"Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it."

This quote by Edmond de Goncourt emphasizes that beauty exists everywhere, yet not everyone is able to perceive or appreciate it. It suggests that our perception of the world around us is subjective and influenced by our experiences, perspectives, and emotions. Therefore, while some may overlook the inherent beauty in things, others can find it even in seemingly ordinary objects or situations.

"The more one's imagination soars and expands, the more valuable one's work will be."

This quote emphasizes that the value of one's creative work is directly related to the breadth and depth of their imaginative capacity. In other words, when an artist, writer, or creator allows their mind to explore beyond the ordinary, the result is more meaningful and impactful work. This implies that imagination is a powerful tool in the creative process and should be encouraged and nurtured for optimal results.

"To be great, one must be a little insane, that is all."

Edmond de Goncourt's quote suggests that extraordinary individuals possess an element of unconventional thinking or non-conformity - a level of madness in the context of societal norms. This 'insanity' is not about irrationality, but rather a deep passion, creativity, and relentless pursuit of their goals, often going against the grain. It implies that greatness may stem from an uncommon perspective or approach, challenging the status quo and pushing boundaries in the pursuit of excellence.

Today I begin to understand what love must be, if it exists... When we are parted, we each feel the lack of the other half of ourselves. We are incomplete like a book in two volumes of which the first has been lost. That is what I imagine love to be: incompleteness in absence.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Love, Romantic, Other, Volumes

Laughter is the mind's intonation. There are ways of laughing which have the sound of counterfeit coins.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Mind, Ways, Which, Intonation

Debauchery is perhaps an act of despair in the face of infinity.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Face, Act, Perhaps, Infinity

Barbarism is needed every four or five hundred years to bring the world back to life. Otherwise it would die of civilization.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Die, Otherwise, Hundred, Hundred Years

People don't like the true and simple; they like fairy tales and humbug.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Simple, True, Like, Tales

A painting in a museum hears more ridiculous opinions than anything else in the world.

- Edmond de Goncourt

World, Museum, Ridiculous, Hears

That which, perhaps, hears more nonsense than anything in the world, is a picture in a museum.

- Edmond de Goncourt

World, Perhaps, Which, Hears

As a general truth, it is safe to say that any picture that produces a moral impression is a bad picture.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Truth, Bad, General, Produces

The reason for the sadness of this modern age and the men who live in it is that it looks for the truth in everything and finds it.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Sad, Sadness, Reason, Modern Age

If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Atheism, Than, Must, Insult

A poet is a man who puts up a ladder to a star and climbs it while playing a violin.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Violin, Ladder, Puts, Climbs

The English are crooked as a nation and honest as individuals. The contrary is true of the French, who are honest as a nation and crooked as individuals.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Honest, Nation, English, Crooked

Man is a mind betrayed, not served, by his organs.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Mind, Organs, His, Betrayed

Historians tell the story of the past, novelists the story of the present.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Past, Tell, Novelists, Historians

Genius is the talent of a person who is dead.

- Edmond de Goncourt

Talent, Dead, Person, Genius

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