I call “journalism” everything that will be less interesting tomorrow than today.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (1921), detached page [tr. O’Brien (1948)]
Quotations by:
Gide, André
Most often people seek in life occasions for persisting in their opinions rather than for educating themselves.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
“An Unprejudiced Mind,” sec. 1, Pretexts (1959) [ed. O’Brien (1964)]
(Source)
It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
(Attributed)
Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
(Attributed)
It is not always by plugging away at a difficulty and sticking at it that one overcomes it; but, rather, often by working on the one next to it. Certain people and certain things require to be approached on an angle.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (26 Oct 1924) [tr. O’Brien (1951)]
If one could recover the uncompromising spirit of one’s youth, one’s greatest indignation would be for what one has become.
[Si l’on pouvait recouvrer l’intransigeance de la jeunesse, ce dont on s’indignerait le plus, c’est de ce qu’on est devenu.]
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
The Counterfeiters [Les Faux-monnayeurs], ch. 18 [La Pérouse] (1925) [tr. Bussy (1927)]
(Source)
Other people’s appetites easily appear excessive when one doesn’t share them.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
The Counterfeiters, “Edouard’s Journal: Oscar Molinier” (1925)
(Source)
Other people’s appetites easily appear excessive when one doesn’t share them.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
The Counterfeiters, 3.1 (1925) [tr. Bussy (1951)]
The most decisive actions of our life — I mean those that are most likely to decide the whole course of our future — are, more often than not, unconsidered.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
The Counterfeiters, pt. 3, ch. 16 (Hildebrant) (1925)
Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Treatise on Narcissus [Le Traité du Narcisse] (1891)
It is essential to persuade the soldier that those he is being urged to massacre are bandits who do not deserve to live; before killing other good, decent fellows like himself, his gun would fall from his hands.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (10 Feb 1943) [tr. O’Brien (1951)]
Nothing excellent can be done without leisure.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (15 Jan 1946) [tr. O’Brien (1951)]
Everything in me calls out to be revised, amended, reeducated.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (19 Jan 1916) [tr. O’Brien (1948)]
Nothing is so silly as the expression of a man who is being complimented.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (1906-02-13) [tr. O’Brien (1947)]
(Source)
The nationalist has a broad hatred and a narrow love.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal (1918) [tr. O’Brien (1948)]
Pay no attention to appearing. Being is alone important.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal, “Rule of Conduct” (Nov 1890)
Do not turn away, through cowardice, from despair. Go through it. … Pass beyond. On the other side of the tunnel you will find light again.
André Gide (1869–1951) French author, Nobel laureate
Journal, detatched pages (1928) [tr. J. O’Brien (1951)]