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Accustomed to the calm aspects of things, she turned…

“Accustomed to the calm aspects of things, she turned, instead, toward the more tumultuous. She loved the sea only for its storms, and greenery only when it grew up here and there among ruins. She needed to derive from things a sort of personal gain; and she rejected as useless everything that did…” quote by Gustave Flaubert
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““Accustomed to the calm aspects of things, she turned, instead, toward the more tumultuous. She loved the sea only for its storms, and greenery only when it grew up here and there among ruins. She needed to derive from things a sort of personal gain; and she rejected as useless everything that did not contribute to the immediate gratification of her heart, — being by temperament more sentimental than artistic, in search of emotions and not landscapes.””

Gustave Flaubert

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage describes a character who seeks intense, immediate emotional experiences, preferring storms and ruins over calm beauty, valuing personal gratification over artistic appreciation.

In simple terms: She craves dramatic feelings, not peaceful scenery.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize authentic emotional fulfillment.

Themes

art emotion personal desire romanticism impermanence

Mood

intense melancholic reflective

Type

literary psychological

When to use this quote

  • travel
  • creative writing
  • relationship dynamics
  • self‑discovery

Key Concepts

existentialism hedonism sentimentality

Questions to Reflect On

  • What drives the need for constant emotional intensity?
  • How does this affect long‑term satisfaction?
A Different Perspective

Such a focus may neglect deeper, lasting meaning.

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