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Balbec Quote by Marcel Proust

“Then the concerts came to an end, the weather turned bad and my girls left Balbec, not all at once, as the swallows leave, but within the same week.” quote by Marcel Proust
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““Then the concerts came to an end, the weather turned bad and my girls left Balbec, not all at once, as the swallows leave, but within the same week.””

Marcel Proust

About This Quote

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

The narrator notes the end of concerts, bad weather, and the departure of his companions, likening their staggered exit to swallows.

In simple terms: Concerts end, weather worsens, friends leave gradually like swallows.

Key Takeaway

Accept change and the inevitable passing of moments.

Themes

transience departure nature memory

Mood

melancholic contemplative

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • Travel planning
  • event scheduling
  • friendship dynamics
  • seasonal activities
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

Existentialism temporal flow symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does the swallows' departure symbolize for you?
  • How do you cope with abrupt changes?
A Different Perspective

The metaphor may romanticize inevitable loss.

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