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Émile Zola

192 quotes

“There are two men inside the artist, the poet and the craftsman. One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1860 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Letter to Paul Cézanne (16 April 1860), as published in John Rewald (ed.) Paul Cézanne: Letters (1995)
“I am little concerned with beauty or perfection. I don't care for the great centuries. All I care about is life, struggle, intensity. I am at ease in my generation.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1866 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Mes Haines [My Hates] (1866) as quoted in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 14th ed. (1968) p. 786
“One forges one's style on the terrible anvil of daily deadlines.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1881 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Le Figaro (1881) as quoted in Elizabeth Knowles and Angela Partington (eds.) The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (1999) p. 840
“Everything is only a dream.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1888 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Le Rêve [The Dream] (1888)
“Paris flared — Paris, which the divine sun had sown with light, and where in glory waved the great future harvest of Truth and of Justice.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1898 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Paris (1898) Last of Les Trois Villes [The Three Cities] trilogy
“If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Pierre Dreyfus (ed.) Alfred Dreyfus: His Life and Letters‎ (1937) p. 175
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, I will answer you: I am here to live out loud!”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Jon Winokur, Writers on Writing‎ (1986)
“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: As quoted in Larry Chang, Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing‎ (2006) p. 55
“A writer of great talent, to whom I complained of the little sympathy I have met with, made me this profound answer: "You have an immense fault which will close all doors against you: you cannot converse for two minutes with a fool without showing him that he is one.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1868 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Preface to the 2nd ed., 1868 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“The critics greeted this book with a churlish and horrified outcry. Certain virtuous people, in newspapers no less virtuous, made a grimace of disgust as they picked it up with the tongs to throw it into the fire. Even the minor literary reviews, the ones that retail nightly the tittle-tattle from alcoves and private rooms, held their noses and talked of filth and stench. I am not complaining about this reception; on the contrary I am delighted to observe that my colleagues have such maidenly susceptibilities.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1868 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Preface to the 2nd ed., 1868 (tr. L. W. Tancock, 1962)
“Thérèse, residing in damp obscurity, in gloomy, crushing silence, saw life expand before her in all its nakedness, each night bringing the same cold couch, and each morn the same empty day.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 3 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“Thérèse could not find one human being, not one living being among these grotesque and sinister creatures, with whom she was shut up; sometimes she had hallucinations, she imagined herself buried at the bottom of a tomb, in company with mechanical corpses, who, when the strings were pulled, moved their heads, and agitated their legs and arms.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 4 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“The only ambition of this great powerful frame was to do nothing, to grovel in idleness and satiation from hour to hour. He wanted to eat well, sleep well, to abundantly satisfy his passions, without moving from his place, without running the risk of the slightest fatigue.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 5 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“She made a savage, angry effort at revolt, and, then all at once gave in. They exchanged not a word. The act was silent and brutal.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 6 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“They have stifled me with their middle-class gentleness, and I can hardly understand how it is that there is still blood in my veins. I have lowered my eyes, and given myself a mournful, idiotic face like theirs. I have led their deathlike life.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 7 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“The young woman seemed to take pleasure in being bold and shameless. She had no hesitation, no fear whatsoever. She threw herself into adultery with a sort of vigorous sincerity, defying danger and doing so with a sort of vanity in her defiance.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 7 (tr. Adam Thorpe, 2013)<!--On her [Thérèse's] part she seemed to revel in daring and shamelessness. Not a single moment of hesitation or fear possessed her. She threw herself into adultery with a kind of furious h…
“Elle aimait ce garçon de cette tendresse bavarde que les vieilles femmes ont pour les gens qui viennent de leur pays, apportant avec eux des souvenirs du passé.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 8 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“La nature et les circonstances semblaient avoir fait cette femme pour cet homme, et les avoir poussés l'un vers l'autre.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 8 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“C'était comme un éclair de passion, rapide et aveuglant, dans un ciel mort.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 8 (tr. L. W. Tancock, 1962)
“Il a besoin de cette femme pour vivre comme on a besoin de boire et de manger.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 9 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“L'idée de la mort, jetée avec désespoir entre deux baisers, revenait implacable et aiguë.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 9 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“Parfois, ils se forçaient à l’espérance, ils cherchaient à reprendre les rêves brûlants d’autrefois, et ils demeuraient tout étonnés, en voyant que leur imagination était vide.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 16 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“When they seated themselves in their carriage, they seemed to be greater strangers than before.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 20 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical. His body, his irritated nerves and trembling frame alone were afraid of the drowned man. His conscience was for nothing in his terror. He did not feel the least regret at having killed Camille. When he was calm, when the spectre did not happen to be there, he would have committed the murder over again, had he thought his interests absolutely required it.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 22 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“In the sudden change that had come over her heart, she no longer recognised herself.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 26 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“Nothing could be more heartrending than this mute and motionless despair.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 26 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“For Madame Raquin, there was such a fathomless depth in this thought, that she could neither reason it out, nor grasp it clearly. She experienced but one sensation, that of a horrible disaster; it seemed to her that she was falling into a dark, cold hole. And she said to herself: "I shall be smashed to pieces at the bottom.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 26 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)<!--For Madame Raquin, there was such a fathomless depth in this thought, that she could neither reason it out, nor grasp it clearly. She experienced but one sensation, that of a horrib…
“Au fond une pensée unique les rongeait: ils s’irritaient contre leur crime, ils se désespéraient d’avoir à jamais troublé leur vie.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 28 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“Like certain devotees, who fancy they will deceive the Almighty, and secure pardon by praying with their lips, and assuming the humble attitude of penitence, Thérèse displayed humility, striking her chest, finding words of repentance, without having anything at the bottom of her heart save fear and cowardice.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 29 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“After a time, she believed in the reality of this comedy.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 29 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“He knew that henceforth, all his days would resemble one another, and bring him equal suffering. And he saw the weeks, months and years gloomily and implacably awaiting him, coming one after the other to fall upon him and gradually smother him.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 30 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“Lorsque l'avenir est sans espoir, le présent prend une amertume ignoble.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 30 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“The couple fell one atop of the other, struck down, finding consolation, at last, in death.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1886 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 32 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1886)
“When a peasant begins to feel the need for instruction, he usually becomes fiercely calculating.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“The Revolution of 1848 found all the Rougons on the lookout, frustrated by their bad luck, and ready to use any means necessary to advance their cause. They were a family of bandits lying in wait, ready to plunder and steal.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“... il y avait en elle un manque d'équilibre entre le sang et les nerfs, une sorte de détraquement du cerveau et du cœur, qui la faisait vivre en dehors de la vie ordinaire, autrement que tout le monde.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1898 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1898)
“From that time onwards he seemed to feel out of place in Plassans. He would wander through the streets like a lost soul. At last he made a sudden decision, and left for Paris.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“Kings may usurp thrones, republics may be established, but the town scarcely stirs. Plassans sleeps while Paris fights.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 3 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“A new dynasty is never founded without a struggle. Blood makes good manure. It will be a good thing for the Rougon family to be founded on a massacre, like many illustrious families.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 3 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“Ce fut un naïf, un naïf sublime, resté sur le seuil du temple, à genoux devant des cierges qu’il prenait de loin pour des étoiles.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1898 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 4 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1898)
“When lovers kiss on the cheeks, it is because they are searching, feeling for one another’s lips. Lovers are made by a kiss.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1898 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 5 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1898)
“Prends garde, mon garçon, on en meurt.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 5 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“They kissed each other again and fell asleep. The patch of light on the ceiling now seemed to be assuming the shape of a terrified eye, staring unblinkingly at the pale, slumbering couple, who now reeked of crime under their sheets, and were dreaming that they could see blood raining down in big drops and turning into gold coins as they landed on the floor.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 6 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“For a moment he thought he could see, in a flash, the future of the Rougon-Macquart family, a pack of wild, satiated appetites in the midst of a blaze of gold and blood.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 7 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2012)
“Puis le moment de la séparation sonnait, Miette remontait sur son mur. Elle lui envoyait des baisers. Et il ne la voyait plus. Une émotion terrible le prit à la gorge: il ne la verrait plus jamais, jamais.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1898 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 7 (tr. E. A. Vizetelly, 1898)
“Etre pauvre à Paris, c'est être pauvre deux fois.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1885 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Anonymous, 1885)
“She never spoke of her husband, nor of her childhood, her family, or her personal concerns. There was only one thing she never sold, and that was herself.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2004)
“The Empire had just been proclaimed, after that famous journey during which the Prince President had succeeded in arousing the enthusiasm of some Bonapartist departments. Silence reigned both at the tribune and in the press. Society, saved once more, was congratulating itself and indolently resting, now that a strong government was protecting it and relieving it even of the trouble of thinking and of attending to its own business.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) first seen 1885 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Anonymous, 1885)
“The Empire was on the point of turning Paris into the bawdy house of Europe. The gang of fortune-seekers who had succeeded in stealing a throne required a reign of adventures, shady transactions, sold consciences, bought women, and rampant drunkenness.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 2 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2004)
“He was twenty, and already there was nothing left to surprise or disgust him. He had certainly dreamt of the most extreme forms of debauchery. Vice with him was not an abyss, as with certain old men, but a natural, external growth.”
Émile Zola (1840–1902) said by 1902 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Ch. 3 (tr. Brian Nelson, 2004)