All that remains Quote by François-René de Chateaubriand
“What importance can we attach to the things of this world? Friendship? It disappears when the one who is liked comes to grief, or the one who likes becomes powerful. Love? it is deceived, fleeting, or guilty. Fame? You share it with mediocrity or crime. Fortune? Could that frivolity be counted a blessing? All that remains are those so-called happy days that flow past unnoticed in the obscurity of domestic cares, leaving man with the desire neither to lose his life nor to begin it over.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Atala, 1801
The quote reflects on the transience and unreliability of worldly attachments—friendship, love, fame, fortune—suggesting they are fleeting and often lead to emptiness, while simple daily joys are the only lasting comforts.
In simple terms: Worldly ties are fleeting; daily joys endure.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning beyond external successes.
Themes
impermanence
disillusionment
domesticity
Mood
reflective
melancholic
Type
philosophical
contemplative
When to use this quote
- grief
- relationship loss
- career ambition
- financial uncertainty
- daily routine
Key Concepts
existentialism
stoicism
human condition
Questions to Reflect On
- What simple daily moments bring you lasting peace?
- How can you cultivate inner stability amid external change?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook the value of deep, lasting relationships that can endure hardship.
![“[L]ike a kingfisher I have made my nest on the waves.” quote by François-René de Chateaubriand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fa6/fran-ois-ren-de-chateaubriand_quote_l-ike-a-kingfisher-i-have-made-my-nest-o_1180867.jpg)
