Old books Quote by Anatole France
““I have always preferred the folly of the passions to the wisdom of indifference. But just because my own passions are not of that sort which burst out with violence to devastate and kill, the common mind is not aware of their existence. Nevertheless, I am greatly moved by them at times, and it has more than once been my fate to lose my sleep for the sake of a few pages written by some forgotten monk or printed by some humble apprentice of Peter Schöffer. And if these fierce enthusiasms are slowly being quenched in me, it is only because I am being slowly quenched myself. Our passions are ourselves. My old books are Me. I am just as old and thumb-worn as they are.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard, 1881
Passions shape identity; they are integral to self, not merely chaotic forces.
In simple terms: Passions are part of who we are.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge passions as self‑defining.
Themes
identity
passion
self
reflection
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
literary
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- reading literature
- creative writing
- personal reflection
- academic study
Key Concepts
existentialism
literary introspection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your passions influence your choices?
- Can passion be both creator and destroyer?
A Different Perspective
Passions can lead to self‑destruction if unchecked.
