Adored Quote by Gustave Flaubert
““Everyone, he thought, must have adored her; all men assuredly must have coveted her. She seemed but the more beautiful to him for this; he was seized with a lasting, furious desire for her, that inflamed his despair, and that was boudless, because it was now unrealisable. To please her, as if she were still living, he adopted her predilections, her ideas; he bought patent leather boots and took to wearing white cravats. He put cosmetics on his moustache, and, like her, signed notes of hand. She corrupted him from beyond the grave.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert, 1857
A man becomes obsessed with an idealized woman, adopting her tastes and losing himself in impossible longing.
In simple terms: Obsession with an unattainable ideal leads to self‑destruction.
Key Takeaway
Beware of idealizing others; stay grounded.
Themes
obsession
idealization
identity
loss
desire
Mood
melancholic
introspective
tragic
Type
literary
psychological
cautionary
When to use this quote
- unrequited love
- grief
- personal identity crisis
- fashion mimicry
Key Concepts
romanticism
psychology
self‑concept
Questions to Reflect On
- What aspects of yourself have you sacrificed for an ideal?
- How can you honor memories without losing self?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing someone can erase personal authenticity.
