--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After two years' absence she finally…" description: "\"“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken land..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/octave-mirbeau-17305_decadence_after-two-years-absence-she-finally-retu_21985.jpg" --- # After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly… ![“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes, our impoverished lovemaking. Her soul had remained over there, among the gigantic, poisonous flowers. She missed the mystery of old temples…” quote by Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/octave-mirbeau-17305_decadence_after-two-years-absence-she-finally-retu_21985.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/octave-mirbeau-17305_decadence_after-two-years-absence-she-finally-retu_21985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0b/octave-mirbeau-17305_decadence_after-two-years-absence-she-finally-retu_21985.jpg) > ““After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes, our impoverished lovemaking. Her soul had remained over there, among the gigantic, poisonous flowers. She missed the mystery of old temples and the ardor of a sky blazing with fever, sensuality and death. The better to relive all these magnificent, raging memories, she became a recluse, spending entire days lying about on tiger skins, playing with those pretty Nepalese knives 'which dissipate one's dreams'.”” [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A yearning for exotic, intense experiences drives her to reject mundane Western life, seeking solace in solitude and symbolic objects that echo her lost passions. **In simple terms:** Exotic longing vs. banal routine. Key Takeaway Escapism fuels identity. Themes longing exoticism disillusionment solitude identity memory Mood melancholic wistful intense Type literary philosophical descriptive When to use this quote - post‑colonial travel - artistic burnout - cultural alienation - spiritual crisis - creative block Key Concepts cultural contrast sensuality death nature symbolism Practical Applications - writing evocative prose - designing immersive experiences Questions to Reflect On - What does the protagonist’s retreat reveal about the limits of cultural assimilation? - How might the ‘tiger skins’ and ‘Nepalese knives’ symbolize her inner conflict? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decadence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence/) [Decadent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadent/) [Exoticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exoticism/) [Orientalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orientalism/) ## Related quotes > [Sensuality is the death of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/sensuality-is-the-death-of-the-soul/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“To most Westerners, the Philippines suffers from a lack of exoticism. Simply put, Philippine culture is just too accessible. To a young Western backpacker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-martin/to-most-westerners-the-philippines-suffers-from-a-lack-of-exoticism/) Steven Martin > [Exoticism can give you an edge: it makes people assume you're cleverer than you are and gives you the upper hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-scott-thomas/exoticism-can-give-you-an-edge-it-makes-people-assume-you-re-cleverer/) [Kristin Scott Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-scott-thomas/) > [“The exotic and the erotic ideals go hand in hand, and this fact also contributes another proof of a more or less obvious truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-praz/the-exotic-and-the-erotic-ideals-go-hand-in-hand-and-this-fact-also/) Mario Praz > [“It must be admitted that the West has reached a level of scientific mastery and outstanding specialisation. In its points of reference, this evolution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/it-must-be-admitted-that-the-west-has-reached-a-level-of-scientific/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [Galleries in the West have probably been looking for exoticism. That's the reason my paintings initially sold well, I think. And then once they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takashi-murakami/galleries-in-the-west-have-probably-been-looking-for-exoticism-that-s/) [Takashi Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takashi-murakami/) > [Calling something exotic emphasizes its distance from the reader. We don't refer to things as exotic if we think of them as ordinary. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/calling-something-exotic-emphasizes-its-distance-from-the-reader-we/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“Normalization takes place not because there is Western-ideology that normalizes third-world texts in any special way (other than the usual play with exoticism) but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aijaz-ahmad/normalization-takes-place-not-because-there-is-western-ideology-that/) Aijaz Ahmad > [ Exotic novelty. My statement to \[people\] is always, well, set this picture in your home town, is it still an interesting picture? Or is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-abell/exotic-novelty-my-statement-to-people-is-always-well-set-this-picture/) [Sam Abell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-abell/) > [Fashion is, perhaps by necessity, in a world of its own - one that only rarely overlaps with anything resembling real life. This fantasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-aletti/fashion-is-perhaps-by-necessity-in-a-world-of-its-own-one-that-only/) Vince Aletti > [“I liked the exoticism his travels gave him, the unknownness. He had blown in with the soft breezes of a wider world, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jojo-moyes/i-liked-the-exoticism-his-travels-gave-him-the-unknownness-he-had/) [jojo moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jojo-moyes/) > [“Exoticism was hard to find in Pullman, Washington. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/exoticism-was-hard-to-find-in-pullman-washington/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) ## More by Octave Mirbeau > [The universe appears to me like an immense, inexorable torture-garden…Passions, greed, hatred, and lies; social institutions, justice, love, glory, heroism, and religion: these are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/the-universe-appears-to-me-like-an-immense-inexorable-torture-garden/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [As soon as I find myself in the presence of a rich man, I cannot help looking upon him as an exceptional and beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/as-soon-as-i-find-myself-in-the-presence-of-a-rich-man-i-cannot-help/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he will always see that word: murder—immortally inscribed upon the pediment of that vast slaughterhouse—humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/wherever-he-goes-whatever-he-does-he-will-always-see-that-word-murder/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [You're obliged to pretend respect for people and institutions you think absurd. You live attached in a cowardly fashion to moral and social conventions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/you-re-obliged-to-pretend-respect-for-people-and-institutions-you/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Why, flowers are violent, cruel, terrible, splendid...like love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/why-flowers-are-violent-cruel-terrible-splendid-like-love/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Why, flowers are violent, cruel, terrible and splendid... like love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/why-flowers-are-violent-cruel-terrible-and-splendid-like-love/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Sheep run to the slaughterhouse, silent and hopeless, but at least sheep never vote for the butcher who kills them or the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/sheep-run-to-the-slaughterhouse-silent-and-hopeless-but-at-least/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Solitude does not consist in living alone; it consists in living with others, with people who take no interest in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/solitude-does-not-consist-in-living-alone-it-consists-in-living-with/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“You know how much Annie loved pearls. She owned some incomparable specimens…the most marvelous, I believe, that ever existed. You also remember the almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/you-know-how-much-annie-loved-pearls-she-owned-some-incomparable/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“Alas, the gates of life never swing open except upon death, never open except upon the palaces and gardens of death. And the universe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/alas-the-gates-of-life-never-swing-open-except-upon-death-never-open/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“I desire her and I hate her. I would like to take her in my arms and embrace her till she smothered, till she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/i-desire-her-and-i-hate-her-i-would-like-to-take-her-in-my-arms-and/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“Yes, there are some backs on the street which cry for the knife.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/yes-there-are-some-backs-on-the-street-which-cry-for-the-knife/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Children, by nature, are keen, passionate and curious. What was referred to as laziness is often merely an awakening of sensitivity, a psychological inability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/children-by-nature-are-keen-passionate-and-curious-what-was-referred/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [Great ladies ... are like the best sauces -- it is better not to know how they are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/great-ladies-are-like-the-best-sauces-it-is-better-not-to-know-how/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [“You're obliged to pretend respect for people and institutions you think absurd. You live attached in a cowardly fashion to moral and social conventions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/you-re-obliged-to-pretend-respect-for-people-and-institutions-you-2/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) [Explore all 33 Octave Mirbeau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) ## More Decadence quotes > [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [“Like symbolism, decadence puts forth the idea that the function of literature is to evoke impressions and 'correspondences', rather than to realistically depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asti-hustvedt/like-symbolism-decadence-puts-forth-the-idea-that-the-function-of/) [Asti Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asti-hustvedt/) > [I think Illium can take care of himself.” “Not if he keeps flirting with you.” A fine, almost elegant tendril of heat, champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/i-think-illium-can-take-care-of-himself-not-if-he-keeps-flirting-with/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“(Decadent style) is ingenious, complicated, learned, full of shades of meaning and research, always pushing further the limits of language... forcing itself to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/decadent-style-is-ingenious-complicated-learned-full-of-shades-of/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/misgovernment-is-of-four-kinds-often-in-combination-they-are-1/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Fundamentalists believe that we don't believe in anything. In their view of the world, they are in possession of absolute certainties, while we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/fundamentalists-believe-that-we-don-t-believe-in-anything-in-their/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The attraction of horror is a mental, or even an intellectual, excitement, but the fascination of the repulsive, so noticeable incontemporary writing, can spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/the-attraction-of-horror-is-a-mental-or-even-an-intellectual/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [“He saw a chamber, broad and low, designed, in its every rich stain of picture and slumberous hanging, to appeal to the sensuous. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-capes/he-saw-a-chamber-broad-and-low-designed-in-its-every-rich-stain-of/) [Bernard Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-capes/) > [The history of prevailing status quos shows decay and decadence infecting the opulent materialism of the Haves. The spiritual life of the Haves is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-history-of-prevailing-status-quos-shows-decay-and-decadence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want my children to be bold,free,self-reliant and capable of changing the phase of that portion of the earth where they live. They may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amun-djoleto/i-want-my-children-to-be-bold-free-self-reliant-and-capable-of/) Amun Djoleto > [“Evolution has no foresight. Complex machinery develops its own agendas. Brains — cheat. Feedback loops evolve to promote stable heartbeats and then stumble upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-watts/evolution-has-no-foresight-complex-machinery-develops-its-own-agendas/) [Peter Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-watts/) > [“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) > [Decadence is a difficult word to use since it has become little more than a term of abuse applied by critics to anything they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/decadence-is-a-difficult-word-to-use-since-it-has-become-little-more/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) [Browse all 204 Decadence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes, our impoverished lovemaking. 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