One might almost reckon mathematically that, having undergone the double composition of public opinion and of the author, their history reaches us at third hand and is thus separated by two stages from the original fact. Alfred de Vigny More Quotes by Alfred de Vigny More Quotes From Alfred de Vigny Poetry is the disease of the brain. Alfred de Vigny disease poetry-is brain Hope is the biggest of our foolish things. Alfred de Vigny foolish Oh, I have a habit of letting myself be lectured on the things I know best. I like to see if they are understood in the same way I understand; for there are many ways of knowing the same thing Alfred de Vigny habit knowing way Doubt is the freedom of thought. Any claim to truth can be doubted. Alfred de Vigny honesty truth doubt The study of social progress is to-day not less needed in literature than is the analysis of the human heart. Alfred de Vigny progress analysis heart The true God, the mighty God, is the God of ideas. Alfred de Vigny sarcastic funny ideas I admit that I myself am far from having a complete command of every topic I touch on, but my knowledge of my subject is always greater than the interest or the understanding of my auditors. You see, there is one very good thing about mankind; the mediocre masses make very few demands of the mediocrities of a higher order, submitting stupidly and cheerfully to their guidance Alfred de Vigny understanding stupid order The existence of the soldier, next to capital punishment, is the most grievous vestige of barbarism which survives among men. Alfred de Vigny soldier men war Of late years (perhaps as a result of our political changes) art has borrowed from history more than ever. Alfred de Vigny political years art The events I sought were never as great as I needed them to be. Alfred de Vigny events needed But it is the province of religion, of philosophy, of pure poetry only, to go beyond life, beyond time, into eternity. Alfred de Vigny eternity philosophy religion From this, without doubt, sprang the fable. Man created it thus, because it was not given him to see more than himself and nature, which surrounds him; but he created it true with a truth all its own. Alfred de Vigny nature doubt men We live in an age of universal investigation, and of exploration of the sources of all movements. Alfred de Vigny exploration movement age The loveliest Muse in the world does not feed her owner; these girls make fine mistresses but terrible wives Alfred de Vigny mistress wife girl I have a private theory, Sir, that there are no heroes and no monsters in this world. Only children should be allowed to use these words Alfred de Vigny hero monsters children Hope is the greatest madness. What can we expect of a world that we enter with the assurance of seeing our fathers and mothers die? A world where, if two beings love each other and give their lives to each other, both can be sure that one will watch the other perish? Alfred de Vigny mother two father Do you not see with your own eyes the chrysalis fact assume by degrees the wings of fiction? Alfred de Vigny degrees eye wings An army is a nation within a nation, it is one of the vices of courage. Alfred de Vigny nations army vices What is a great life if not a youthful idea executed by a man of mature years. Alfred de Vigny men years ideas What it values most of all is the sum total of events and the advance of civilization, which carries individuals along with it; but, indifferent to details, it cares less to have them real than noble or, rather, grand and complete. Alfred de Vigny noble real civilization
