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Beauty Quote by Marcel Proust

“Soon, what was tedious was everything. 'Beautiful things, they're so tedious! Paintings, they're enough to drive you mad...How right you are, it's so tedious, writing letters!' In the end it was life itself that she declared to us was a bore, without one quite knowing from where she was taking her…” quote by Marcel Proust
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““Soon, what was tedious was everything. 'Beautiful things, they're so tedious! Paintings, they're enough to drive you mad...How right you are, it's so tedious, writing letters!' In the end it was life itself that she declared to us was a bore, without one quite knowing from where she was taking her term of comparison.””

Marcel Proust

About This Quote

Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 2, 1919

The narrator observes that once excitement fades, even beautiful things become burdensome, reflecting a broader ennui with life itself.

In simple terms: Beauty can become tedious when it loses novelty.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and refresh your appreciation for beauty.

Themes

ennui beauty existentialism

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • art criticism
  • personal reflection
  • daily routine

Key Concepts

Aesthetic fatigue subjective experience

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you sustain wonder for the familiar?
  • What practices keep appreciation alive?
A Different Perspective

Even cherished things can feel burdensome without mindful engagement.

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