Change Quote by Marcel Proust
““This was not to say, however, that she did not long, at times, for some greater change, that she did not experience some of those exceptional moments when one thirsts for something other than what is, and when those who, through lack of energy or imagination, are unable to generate any motive power in themselves, cry out, as the clock strikes or the postman knocks, for something new, even if it is worse, some emotion, some sorrow; when the heartstrings, which contentment has silenced, like a harp laid by, yearn to be plucked and sounded again by some hand, however rough, even if it should break them; when the will, which has with such difficulty won the right to indulge without let or hindrance in its own desires and woes, would gladly fling the reins into the hands of imperious circumstance, however cruel.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: In Search of Lost Time, Volume 1, 1913
The passage describes a yearning for change and emotional intensity, even if it brings hardship, reflecting inner conflict between desire and duty.
In simple terms: A deep longing for something new, even if painful.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the tension between desire and responsibility.
Themes
longing
conflict
emotion
change
duty
Mood
melancholic
reflective
intense
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- artistic creation
- personal crisis
- relationship dynamics
- career decisions
Key Concepts
existential yearning
psychological tension
creative impulse
Questions to Reflect On
- What new experiences do you seek despite potential pain?
- How can you channel yearning into growth?
A Different Perspective
Such yearning can lead to self‑destructive choices if not balanced.
![“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)
