End of the world Quote by Alfred De Musset
““To give you an idea of my state of mind I can not do better than compare it to one of those rooms we see nowadays in which are collected and mingled the furniture of all times and countries. Our age has no impress of its own. We have impressed the seal of our time neither on our houses nor our gardens, nor on anything that is ours. On the street may be seen men who have their beards trimmed as in the time of Henry III, others who are clean-shaven, others who have their hair arranged as in the time of Raphael, others as in the time of Christ. So the homes of the rich are cabinets of curiosities: the antique, the gothic, the style of the Renaissance, that of Louis XIII, all pell-mell. In short, we have every century except our own—a thing which has never been seen at any other epoch: eclecticism is our taste; we take everything we find, this for beauty, that for utility, another for antiquity, still another for its ugliness even, so that we live surrounded by debris, as if the end of the world were at hand.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Literary Critique, 1835
He observes modern eclecticism as a chaotic mix of past styles, lacking a unique contemporary identity, likening society to a collection of borrowed aesthetics.
In simple terms: Modern taste mixes old styles, lacking its own identity.
Cultivate original expression rather than copying.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- architectural design
- fashion trends
- interior décor
- art exhibitions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What elements of the past truly inspire you?
- How can you create a distinct modern style?
Eclecticism can inspire innovative fusion if guided.