Communication Quote by gustave flaubert
““Because lascivious or venal lips had murmured the same words to him, he now had little belief in their sincerity when he heard them from Emma; they should be taken with a grain of salt, he thought, because the most exaggerated speeches usually hid the weakest feelings - as though the fullness of the soul did not sometimes overflow into the emptiest phrases, since no one can ever express the exact measure of his needs, his conceptions, or his sorrows, and human speech is like a cracked pot on which we beat out rhythms for bears to dance to when we are striving to make music that will wring tears from the stars.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert, 1869
Words often mask true feelings; exaggerated speech can hide weak emotions, making language unreliable for expressing deep needs.
In simple terms: Speech can be deceptive and shallow.
Key Takeaway
Question the sincerity behind polished words.
Themes
trust
communication
authenticity
perception
vulnerability
Mood
cautious
reflective
skeptical
Type
analytical
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- political rhetoric
- artistic critique
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
psychology
literary analysis
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you discern genuine emotion behind eloquent language?
- When have you misread someone's sincerity?
A Different Perspective
Even sincere speech can be distorted by ego or performance.
