Art Quote by Edmond de Goncourt
“One of the proud joys of the man of letters --if that man of letters is an artist is to feel within himself the power to immortalize at will anything he chooses to immortalize. Insignificant though he may be, he is conscious of possessing a creative divinity. God creates lives; the man of imagination creates fictional lives which may make a profound and as it were more living impression on the world's memory.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Natural History of the Soul by Edmond de Goncourt, 1869
A writer who sees himself as an artist feels a divine power to make anything he imagines endure forever, shaping collective memory.
In simple terms: Writers feel they can make their imagination immortal.
Key Takeaway
Use your imagination to leave lasting impact.
Themes
creativity
legacy
artistry
Mood
proud
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- writing
- storytelling
- cultural influence
Key Concepts
divine inspiration
memory formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What stories do you wish to immortalize?
- How does recognizing your creative divinity affect your work?
A Different Perspective
The claim of divine power may overlook collaborative and societal influences on lasting works.
![“[He] went on to say that during all those years he had done nothing at all, that all he had felt had been a need to live, to live actively, violently, noisily, a need to sing, to make music, to roam the woods, to drink a little too much and get involved in a brawl.” quote by Edmond De Goncourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3e1/edmond-de-goncourt-19675_life_he-went-on-to-say-that-during-all-those_436609.jpg)
