--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full…" description: "\"“Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without the great military career that he had hoped for, his sword rusting in its scabbard, his fee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly-26843_dissapointment_now-mesnilgrand-saw-himself-come-to-full_2278495.jpg" --- # Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without… ![“Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without the great military career that he had hoped for, his sword rusting in its scabbard, his feelings swelling up into the bitterest kind of rage. [...] An ingenious moralist, preoccupid by how illogical our destinies appear to be, once…” quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly-26843_dissapointment_now-mesnilgrand-saw-himself-come-to-full_2278495.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly-26843_dissapointment_now-mesnilgrand-saw-himself-come-to-full_2278495.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/83f/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly-26843_dissapointment_now-mesnilgrand-saw-himself-come-to-full_2278495.jpg) > ““Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without the great military career that he had hoped for, his sword rusting in its scabbard, his feelings swelling up into the bitterest kind of rage. \[...\] An ingenious moralist, preoccupid by how illogical our destinies appear to be, once explained it by hypothesizing that men are like portrairs: the ones who have only their head and shoulders depicted seem larger than they could really have been in life, while others practically disappear, shrunken and reduced to looking like dwarves by the absurd size of their portrait's frame. \[...\] Back then, people thought he would either kill himself or go mad. He did not kill himself, and his mind stayed whole. He did not go mad. But then, that was because he was mad already, said the jokers—for there are always jokers. But although he did not kill himself—and, given his nature, his comrades chose not to ask him why he did not—he was not the kind of man to let his heart be eaten by a vulture without at least trying to break the vulture's beak.”” [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A man's unfulfilled aspirations can breed deep bitterness, yet resilience can prevent self-destruction. **In simple terms:** Unmet goals cause rage, but inner strength avoids ruin. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner resolve despite disappointment. Themes disappointment resilience identity perception madness Mood reflective somber determined Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - career stagnation - personal crisis - mental health challenges - creative block Key Concepts existentialism psychology self‑concept social expectation Questions to Reflect On - How do you channel frustration into growth? - What frames shape our sense of self? A Different Perspective Even with resolve, societal pressure may still erode self‑worth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dissapointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissapointment/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Suicide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suicide/) ## Related quotes > [I hate that when people are like, "Well, all dwarves know each other, right?" And you want to get mad, but you can't because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-williams/i-hate-that-when-people-are-like-well-all-dwarves-know-each-other/) [Brad Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-williams/) > [ We \[the Moderns\] are like dwarves perched on the shoulders of giants \[the Ancients\], and thus we are able to see more and farther… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-chartres/we-the-moderns-are-like-dwarves-perched-on-the-shoulders-of-giants/) Bernard of Chartres > [“I’m so tall I make midgets look like dwarves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-so-tall-i-make-midgets-look-like-dwarves/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Even our shadows leaves us in when we are in the dark,Dnt be suprise when those who adore u most leaves ur life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetner/even-our-shadows-leaves-us-in-when-we-are-in-the-dark-dnt-be-suprise/) [Sweetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetner/) > [“Occupy your thoughts with purpose and you will be so busy pursuing a meaningful future there will be no time for doubt, chaos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/occupy-your-thoughts-with-purpose-and-you-will-be-so-busy-pursuing-a/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [“Disappointment is the end of an illusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/disappointment-is-the-end-of-an-illusion/) Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann > [“Nobody sane wants to disappoint himself intentionally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/nobody-sane-wants-to-disappoint-himself-intentionally/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Never learn to love someone untouchable. They'll only disappoint you in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-tooley/never-learn-to-love-someone-untouchable-they-ll-only-disappoint-you/) Adrienne Tooley > [“You know what,” Kendry said, wiping her nose with her sleeve, “maybe all you need to do is disappoint people for once. And not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-thoraval/you-know-what-kendry-said-wiping-her-nose-with-her-sleeve-maybe-all/) Yannick Thoraval > [“Tomorrow, you promise yourself, things will be different, yet, tomorrow is too often a repetition of today. And you disappoint yourself again and again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tomorrow-you-promise-yourself-things-will-be-different-yet-tomorrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Losing your virginity is a lot like when you find out that Santa doesn’t exist… First you’re slightly disappointed, and then you’re happy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/losing-your-virginity-is-a-lot-like-when-you-find-out-that-santa/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [“One who would really like to know himself would have to be a restless, fanatical collector of disappointments, and seeking disappointing experiences must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-mercier/one-who-would-really-like-to-know-himself-would-have-to-be-a-restless/) [Pascal Mercier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-mercier/) > [“I'd never been a big fan of disappointment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/i-d-never-been-a-big-fan-of-disappointment/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [Never rely, cause u sigh,cry,then say fuck it I wanna die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott/never-rely-cause-u-sigh-cry-then-say-fuck-it-i-wanna-die/) [Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott/) > [“That's the signal... Transmitter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-he/that-s-the-signal-transmitter/) Steven He ## More by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly > [“(it was) beautiful, like so many senseless things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/it-was-beautiful-like-so-many-senseless-things/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“She was one of those women of good family who no longer exist, elegant, distinguished, and haughty, whose pallor and thinness seem to say,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/she-was-one-of-those-women-of-good-family-who-no-longer-exist-elegant/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“In Paris, where raillery is so quick to throw emotion out the window, silence, in a roomful of clever people after a story, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/in-paris-where-raillery-is-so-quick-to-throw-emotion-out-the-window/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“Beauty is single. Only ugliness is multiple, and even then its multiplicity is soon exhausted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/beauty-is-single-only-ugliness-is-multiple-and-even-then-its/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“Night, which in Autumn seems to fall from the sky so suddenly, chilled us...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/night-which-in-autumn-seems-to-fall-from-the-sky-so-suddenly-chilled/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“For with dandies, a joke is the only way of making yourself respected.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/for-with-dandies-a-joke-is-the-only-way-of-making-yourself-respected/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“Extreme civilization robs crime of its frightful poetry, and prevents the writer from restoring it. That would be too dreadful, say those good souls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/extreme-civilization-robs-crime-of-its-frightful-poetry-and-prevents/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“And, in fact, if these crimes appeal less to the senses, they appeal more to the mind; and the mind, in the last analysis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/and-in-fact-if-these-crimes-appeal-less-to-the-senses-they-appeal/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“My good fellow,” said Mesnil, stopping, “ever since the creation of the world there have been men like me specially intended to astonish men...men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/my-good-fellow-said-mesnil-stopping-ever-since-the-creation-of-the/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“Dandies, who – as you know - scorn all emotions as being beneath them, and do not believe, like that simpleton Goethe, that astonishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/dandies-who-as-you-know-scorn-all-emotions-as-being-beneath-them-and/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“For – as everyone knows – in libertinism bad taste is a potent force. ("A Woman's Vengeance")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/for-as-everyone-knows-in-libertinism-bad-taste-is-a-potent-force-a/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“The Devil teaches women what they are – or they would teach it to the Devil if he did not know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/the-devil-teaches-women-what-they-are-or-they-would-teach-it-to-the/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“He was terrified by the sublime horror of it, for intensity of feeling, carried to this degree, is sublime. ("A Woman's Vengeance")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/he-was-terrified-by-the-sublime-horror-of-it-for-intensity-of-feeling/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“Hatred needs scorn. Scorn is hatred's nectar!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/hatred-needs-scorn-scorn-is-hatred-s-nectar/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) > [“He had a reputation in society as a man with a lively wit, whose gaiety was pleasant and formidable – which all gaiety must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/he-had-a-reputation-in-society-as-a-man-with-a-lively-wit-whose/) [Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) [Explore all 18 Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly/) ## More Dissapointment quotes > [“That's the signal... Transmitter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-he/that-s-the-signal-transmitter/) Steven He > [Never rely, cause u sigh,cry,then say fuck it I wanna die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott/never-rely-cause-u-sigh-cry-then-say-fuck-it-i-wanna-die/) [Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott/) > [“I'd never been a big fan of disappointment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rowen/i-d-never-been-a-big-fan-of-disappointment/) [Michelle Rowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rowen/) > [“One who would really like to know himself would have to be a restless, fanatical collector of disappointments, and seeking disappointing experiences must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-mercier/one-who-would-really-like-to-know-himself-would-have-to-be-a-restless/) [Pascal Mercier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-mercier/) > [“Losing your virginity is a lot like when you find out that Santa doesn’t exist… First you’re slightly disappointed, and then you’re happy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mitchell/losing-your-virginity-is-a-lot-like-when-you-find-out-that-santa/) [Ben Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mitchell/) > [“Tomorrow, you promise yourself, things will be different, yet, tomorrow is too often a repetition of today. And you disappoint yourself again and again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tomorrow-you-promise-yourself-things-will-be-different-yet-tomorrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You know what,” Kendry said, wiping her nose with her sleeve, “maybe all you need to do is disappoint people for once. And not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-thoraval/you-know-what-kendry-said-wiping-her-nose-with-her-sleeve-maybe-all/) Yannick Thoraval > [“Never learn to love someone untouchable. They'll only disappoint you in the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-tooley/never-learn-to-love-someone-untouchable-they-ll-only-disappoint-you/) Adrienne Tooley > [“Nobody sane wants to disappoint himself intentionally.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/nobody-sane-wants-to-disappoint-himself-intentionally/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Disappointment is the end of an illusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/disappointment-is-the-end-of-an-illusion/) Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann > [“Occupy your thoughts with purpose and you will be so busy pursuing a meaningful future there will be no time for doubt, chaos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/occupy-your-thoughts-with-purpose-and-you-will-be-so-busy-pursuing-a/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [Even our shadows leaves us in when we are in the dark,Dnt be suprise when those who adore u most leaves ur life in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetner/even-our-shadows-leaves-us-in-when-we-are-in-the-dark-dnt-be-suprise/) [Sweetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetner/) > [“People start to lie more once they start to care less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-start-to-lie-more-once-they-start-to-care-less/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Don’t let past disappointments rob you of future happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-let-past-disappointments-rob-you-of-future-happiness/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Pentru o clipa am crezut ca meriti sa sacrific Universul pentru tine... Ce amar m-am inselat!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/autor-necunoscut/pentru-o-clipa-am-crezut-ca-meriti-sa-sacrific-universul-pentru-tine/) Autor necunoscut [Browse all 38 Dissapointment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissapointment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without the great military career that he had hoped for, his sword rusting in its scabbard, his feelings swelling up into the bitterest kind of rage. [...] An ingenious moralist, preoccupid by how illogical our destinies appear to be, once explained it by hypothesizing that men are like portrairs: the ones who have only their head and shoulders depicted seem larger than they could really have been in life, while others practically disappear, shrunken and reduced to looking like dwarves by the absurd size of their portrait's frame. [...] Back then, people thought he would either kill himself or go mad. He did not kill himself, and his mind stayed whole. He did not go mad. But then, that was because he was mad already, said the jokers—for there are always jokers. 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