Skip to content

Gratitude to god Quote by Gustave Flaubert

“It is a delightful thing to write, to cease to be oneself, to flow through the whole creation of which one speaks. Today, for example, man and woman at the same time, lover and mistress at once, I rode horseback through a forest on an autumn afternoon under the yellow leaves, and I was the horses…” quote by Gustave Flaubert
Download Open image
““It is a delightful thing to write, to cease to be oneself, to flow through the whole creation of which one speaks. Today, for example, man and woman at the same time, lover and mistress at once, I rode horseback through a forest on an autumn afternoon under the yellow leaves, and I was the horses, the leaves, the wind, the words they said to each other and the red sun that beat down on their eyelids, heavy with love, and made them droop. Is this pride or piety? Is it the inane outpouring of egotism, or a vague and noble religious instinct? When I think it over, after experiencing these delights, I would be tempted to offer a prayer of gratitude to God, if I were sure he could hear me.””

Gustave Flaubert

About This Quote

Source Novel: Sentimental Education by Gustave Flaubert, 1869

The writer describes losing personal identity to become one with the world, questioning whether this immersion is egoistic or a spiritual communion with the divine.

In simple terms: Writing can dissolve self into nature and feeling, blurring ego and reverence.

Key Takeaway

Embrace humility and gratitude in creative immersion.

Themes

creativity spirituality identity humility

Mood

reflective introspective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • writing retreats
  • nature walks
  • meditative art
  • role‑playing
  • immersive storytelling

Key Concepts

ego transcendence divine instinct

Questions to Reflect On

  • Do you ever feel you become the story you tell?
  • How does humility shape artistic expression?
A Different Perspective

The experience may be romanticized, overlooking practical limits of self‑loss.

3.7 out of 5 (9 ratings)

More by Gustave Flaubert

Explore all 526 Gustave Flaubert quotes

More Gratitude to god quotes

Browse all 42 Gratitude to god quotes