“Those horses must have been Spanish jennets, born of mares mated with a zephyr; for they went as swiftly as the wind, and the moon, which had risen at our departure to give us light, rolled through the sky like a wheel detached from its carriage...”
― Théophile Gautier, quote from Clarimonde
“The famous courtesan Clarimonde died recently, as the result of an orgy which lasted eight days and eight nights. It was something infernally
magnificent. They revived the abominations of the feasts of Belshazzar and Cleopatra. Great God!
what an age this is in which we live! The guests were served by swarthy slaves speaking an unknown tongue, who to my mind had every appearance of veritable demons; the livery of the meanest among them might have served as a gala-costume for an emperor. There have always been current some very
strange stories concerning this Clarimonde, and all her lovers have come to a miserable or a violent end. It has been said that she was a ghoul, a female vampire; but I believe that she was Beelzebub in person.”
― Théophile Gautier, quote from Clarimonde
“If thou wilt be mine, I shall make thee happier than God Himself in His paradise. The angels themselves will be jealous of thee. Tear off that funeral shroud in which thou art about to wrap thyself. I am Beauty, I am Youth, I am Life. Come to me! Together we shall be Love. Can Jehovah offer thee aught in exchange? Our lives will flow on like a dream, in one eternal kiss.”
― Théophile Gautier, quote from Clarimonde
“Yes, I have loved as none in the world ever loved—with an insensate and furious passion—so violent that I am astonished it did not cause my heart to burst asunder. Ah, what nights—what nights!”
― Théophile Gautier, quote from Clarimonde
“„Ochii ei erau cu adevărat poem iar privirile alcătuiau fiecare un cântec.”
― Théophile Gautier, quote from Clarimonde
Théophile Gautier
Born place: in Tarbes, France
Born date August 30, 1811
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“Πώς να περιγράψει κανείς το απερίγραπτο; Πώς μπορείς να μιλήσεις για κάτι που σε άφησε άφωνο από τρόμο; Υπάρχουν άλλοι, πολύ πιο ευφραδείς, που στάθηκαν ανίκανοι να βρουν τις κατάλληλες λέξεις, Πρόκειται για την σιωπή που γεννάει η ντροπή, αφού ακόμα και οι αθώοι είναι ένοχοι. Στερούμενος τα δικαιώματά του, ο άνθρωπος ξαναγίνεται ζώο. Οι πεινασμένοι κλέβουν απ' τους πεινασμένους. Η προσωπική επιβίωση αποτελεί την μόνη έγνοια. Μια έγνοια που καταπατά, ή και διαγράφει ακόμα, το οποιοδήποτε βίωμα. Σκοπός του Νταχάου ήταν να δουλεύεις μέχρι να καταστρέψεις την πνευματική σου υπόσταση. Ο θάνατος ήταν ένα αναπάντεχο υποπροϊόν. Για να επιβιώσεις εσύ, οι άλλοι έπρεπε να υποφέρουν για λογαριασμό σου. Όταν χτυπούσαν ή λιντσάριζαν κάποιον άλλο, εσύ ήσουν ασφαλής -έστω και για λίγο. Άλλοτε πάλι, για μερικές μέρες, έτρωγες την μερίδα του διπλανού σου, που είχε πεθάνει στον ύπνο του.”
― Philip Kerr, quote from Berlin Noir: March Violets / The Pale Criminal / A German Requiem
“As often as Herman had witnessed the slaughter of animals and fish, he always had the same thought: in their behaviour towards creatures, all men were Nazis. The smugness with which man could do with other species as he pleased exemplified the most extreme racist theories, the principle that might is right.”
― Isaac Bashevis Singer, quote from Enemies: A Love Story
“One never really knew just how taxing pain was till one was free of it and could feel the difference.”
― Kristen Britain, quote from Mirror Sight
“Through many waters borne, brother, I am come to thy sad grave, that I may give these last gifts to the dead. Forever and ever, brother, hail. Forever and ever, farewell.”
― Cassandra Clare, quote from The Infernal Devices: Clockwork Princess
“În general, se presupune că îmbogățirea reprezintă țelul suprem tipic al evreului. Nimic mai fals. Îmbogățirea înseamnă pentru el numai o treaptă intermediară, un mijloc spre adevăratul scop. Ceea ce vrea cu adevărat evreul, idealul său imanent, este desăvârșirea intelectuală, promovarea într-o categorie culturală superioară. Chiar la evreimea ortodoxă răsăriteană, la care atât slăbiciunile, cât și calitățile întregii rase se manifestă mai pregnant, își găsește o expresie plastică această supremație a voinței de spiritualitate asupra factorului material nud: cel cucernic, învățatul în ale Bibliei valorează de o mie de ori mai mult în ochii comunității decât bogatul. Chiar și cel mai înstărit își va mărita fiica mai degrabă cu un învățat sărac lipit pămâtului decât cu un negustor. Această întâietate dată celor spirituale se manifestă la fel de intens în toate straturile; chiar și cel mai sărac neguțător ambulant, care-și târăște marfa prin ploi și zloată, va încerca cu prețul celor mai grele sacrificii să-și dea cel puțin un fecior la învățătură, și pentru întreaga familie este un titlu de onoare să aibă printre membrii ei pe cineva care a devenit un intelectual de vază, un profesor, un savant, un muzician, ca și când aceasta ar înnobila-o prin performanța lui. Instinctiv, ceva din firea evreului caută să se debaraseze de ceea ce este moralmente dubios, respingător și meschin, inerent oricărui negoț, oricărei simple afaceri și să se ridice în sfera mai pură, imaterială a valorilor spirituale, ca și când ar vrea - ca să vorbim ca Wagner - să scape, el și tot neamul lui, de blestemul banilor.”
― Stefan Zweig, quote from The World of Yesterday
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