Outward appearance Quote by Marcel Proust
““Sadists’ of Mlle. Vinteuil’s sort are creatures so purely sentimental, so virtuous by nature, that even sensual pleasure appears to them as something bad, a privilege reserved for the wicked. And when they allow themselves for a moment to enjoy it they endeavour to impersonate, to assume all the outward appearance of wicked people, for themselves and their partners in guilt, so as to gain the momentary illusion of having escaped beyond the control of their own gentle and scrupulous natures into the inhuman world of pleasure.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, Marcel Proust, 1913
Some people, overly sentimental, view pleasure as sinful, yet briefly indulge and mimic wickedness to escape their moral constraints.
In simple terms: Sentimental people see pleasure as wrong, yet sometimes indulge and act wickedly.
Key Takeaway
Beware of moral rigidity that distorts natural desires.
Themes
morality
pleasure
sentimentality
self‑deception
identity
Mood
reflective
critical
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
psychological
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- self‑reflection
- creative expression
- counseling
- artistic analysis
Key Concepts
ethical philosophy
psychology of desire
literary criticism
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we label natural pleasure as immoral?
- How does temporary indulgence affect self‑image?
A Different Perspective
Such self‑deception can lead to guilt and identity confusion.
![“For her [Françoise], wealth was like a necessary condition without which virtue would lack both merit and charm. She made so little distinction between the two that she came to see their qualities as interchangeable, expecting material comfort from virtue and moral edification from wealth.” quote by Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/marcel-proust-114_character_for-her-fran-oise-wealth-was-like-a-nece_2687.jpg)
