Art Quote by Gustave Flaubert
“There are in me, in literary terms, two distinct characters: one who is taken with roaring, with lyricism, with soaring aloft, with all the sonorities of phrase and summits of thought; and the other who digs and scratches for truth all he can, who is as interested in the little facts as the big ones, who would like to make you feel materially the things he reproduces.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Letter to a Young Writer, 1860
The writer sees himself split between lofty, poetic imagination and gritty, factual investigation.
In simple terms: Two sides: poetic imagination and factual investigation.
Key Takeaway
Balance imagination with rigorous observation.
Themes
creativity
truth
dualism
Mood
introspective
analytical
Type
reflective
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- research
- teaching
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
literary theory
self‑reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you integrate imagination and truth in your work?
- Which side dominates your creative process?
A Different Perspective
Purely poetic work may neglect factual accuracy.
