Malcolm De Chazal Quotes

Powerful Malcolm De Chazal for Daily Growth

About Malcolm De Chazal

Malcolm de Chazal (1901-1981) was a Seychellois poet, artist, philosopher, and polymath who is considered one of the most important figures in the literature of the Indian Ocean. Born on February 26, 1901, on Mahe Island, Seychelles, De Chazal was a prodigious child, exhibiting exceptional intellectual abilities from an early age. He was educated by private tutors and eventually studied law at the University of Bordeaux in France. De Chazal's work was deeply influenced by his unique perspective as a Creole born in a remote island nation, as well as his exposure to Western philosophy, art, and literature during his time in France. He is best known for his magnum opus, "Le Livre de la Verite," a 52-volume encyclopedic work that took him over 60 years to complete. The book is a complex fusion of poetry, philosophy, history, and science, reflecting De Chazal's wide-ranging intellectual interests and his belief in the interconnectedness of all things. De Chazal's other major works include "Les Mascarades," a collection of poems that explores themes of identity, colonialism, and spirituality, and "Le Livre des Merveilles," a book of fables inspired by his love for nature and the creatures of the Seychelles. Despite his significant contributions to literature, De Chazal remained relatively unknown during his lifetime. It was only after his death that his work began to gain wider recognition, particularly in France and other parts of the world. Today, he is celebrated as a visionary thinker and a unique voice in the annals of world literature.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"To live is to remember."

This quote by Malcolm De Chazal suggests that our existence, or 'living', is inherently linked with memory. In essence, as we experience life, we accumulate memories, which form the fabric of our personal history and identity. Memories are not just snapshots of past events; they shape our present understanding of ourselves and the world, and guide our future actions. Thus, in a broader sense, to remember is to continue living in the sense that our past experiences inform our current reality and our path forward.


"In nature, there is no injustice; it is we who introduce injustice into nature."

This quote by Malcolm De Chazal suggests that the inherent balance and harmony in nature are a reflection of its intrinsic laws, while human-perceived injustice arises from our interpretation and manipulation of this natural world. Essentially, it's a call to recognize that we, as humans, impose unnatural imbalances and create inequalities in the environment due to our actions, not because nature itself is unjust.


"The future is an illusion woven by the threads of memories of the past."

This quote suggests that our understanding and anticipation of the future are shaped by our experiences, memories, and perceptions of the past. The future, as we imagine it, is a construction or narrative built upon these threads from our past, not an independent entity. In essence, Malcolm De Chazal implies that our perception of time is not linear but cyclical, with the past influencing our interpretation of the present and our expectations for the future.


"We are the architects of our own destiny."

The quote "We are the architects of our own destiny" by Malcolm de Chazal emphasizes personal responsibility and self-determination. It suggests that individuals have the power to shape their lives and future, much like an architect designs a building. This implies that choices made today can significantly impact tomorrow, implying that one's success or failure is largely within their control. It encourages people to take charge of their own lives, embrace opportunities, and make conscious decisions to build the destiny they desire.


"Man is a small part of the Universe, but in his mind, the whole Universe exists."

This quote suggests that despite our physical insignificance in the vastness of the universe, humans possess the unique ability to mentally encompass the entire cosmos within ourselves. It implies that our minds have the capacity to conceive of and comprehend the universe as a whole, which sets us apart from other creatures and underscores our intellectual potential. In essence, we may be small in size but our thoughts and imagination allow us to transcend our physical limitations and explore the infinite realms of the universe.


The beautiful remains so in ugly surroundings.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Beauty, Beautiful, Ugly, Remains

The flower in the vase smiles, but no longer laughs.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Smile, Smiles, Longer, Flower

Monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Mirror, Looks, Superior, Monkeys

The idealist walks on tiptoe, the materialist on his heels.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Tiptoe, Walks, His, Materialist

A women knows how to keep quiet when she is in the right, whereas a man, when he is in the right, will keep on talking.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Will, Right, Talking, Whereas

The flower is a jumble of thighs, the sun's harem - the most oriental thing imaginable.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Thighs, Most, Harem, Imaginable

Women make us poets, children make us philosophers.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Children, Poets, Make, Philosophers

The mind gets distracted in all sorts of ways. The heart is its own exclusive concern and diversion.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Mind, Own, Ways, Distracted

Animals awaken, first facially, then bodily. Men's bodies wake before their faces do. The animal sleeps within its body, man sleeps with his body in his mind.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Mind, Before, Sleeps, Faces

The man who can make others laugh secures more votes for a measure than the man who forces them to think.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Think, More, Them, Forces

We sometimes laugh from ear to ear, but it would be impossible for a smile to be wider than the distance between our eyes.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Distance, Sometimes, Wider, Ear

Our expression and our words never coincide, which is why the animals don't understand us.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Never, Expression, Which, Coincide

The family is a court of justice which never shuts down for night or day.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Night, Never, Which, Court

Laughter is regional: a smile extends over the whole face.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Face, Over, Regional, Laughter

Women eat while they are talking; men talk while they are eating.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Men, Talking, Eat, Talk

We always keep God waiting while we admit more importunate suitors.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Waiting, More, Always, Admit

Art is nature speeded up and God slowed down.

- Malcolm de Chazal

Art, God, Up, Nature

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