Chapter-32 Quote by Julio Cortázar
““That's how it is, Rocamadour: in Paris we're like fungus, we grow on the railings of staircases, in dark rooms with greasy smells, where people make love all the time and then fry some eggs and put on Vivaldi records, light cigarettes... and outside there are all sorts of things, the windows open onto the air and it all begins with a sparrow or a gutter, it rains a lot here, rocamadour, much more than in the country, and things get rusty... we don't have many clothes, we get along with so few, a good overcoat, some shoes to keep the rain out, we're very dirty, everybody is dirty and good-looking in Paris, Rocamadour, the beds smell of night and deep sleep, dust and books underneath.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Rayuela (Hopscotch) by Julio Cortázar, 1963
A vivid portrait of Parisian bohemian life, highlighting poverty, romance, music, and the gritty beauty of everyday existence.
In simple terms: Paris life is gritty, artistic, and full of contrasts.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the raw, find beauty in the mundane.
Themes
bohemian
city life
poverty
art
romance
Mood
melancholic
introspective
hopeful
Type
literary
descriptive
observational
When to use this quote
- living in a cramped apartment
- street musicians
- late night gatherings
- finding love in hardship
- surviving with minimal possessions
Key Concepts
existentialism
urban decay
sensory detail
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the harsh environment shape artistic expression?
- What comforts can be found amidst poverty?
A Different Perspective
The romanticized view may overlook systemic issues and hardships.
![“The best literature is always a take [in the musical sense]; there is an implicit risk in its execution, a margin of danger that is the pleasure of the flight, of the love, carrying with it a tangible loss but also a total engagement that, on another level, lends the theater its unparalleled…” quote by Julio Cortazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0d/julio-cort-zar-698_books_the-best-literature-is-always-a-take-in_174639.jpg)
