One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.
Honore De BalzacRead
How did you get back?' asked Vautrin. 'I walked,' replied Eugene. 'I wouldn't like half-pleasures, myself,' observed the tempter. 'I'd want to go there in my own carriage, have my own box, and come back in comfort. All or nothing, that's my motto.' 'And a very good one,' said Madame Vauquer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the idea of seeking complete experiences rather than settling for less.
In this quote, Vautrin and Eugene discuss the importance of pursuing experiences that are fulfilling and complete rather than opting for compromises. Vautrin suggests that he prefers fullness in life — represented metaphorically by wanting to travel in his own carriage and return in comfort, indicating a desire for agency and satisfaction in one's endeavors. Madame Vauquer's agreement signifies a shared understanding of the value of embracing all of what life has to offer instead of settling for the mediocre or half-hearted.
Themes
FullnessComfortExperienceAll Or NothingPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about ambitious goals, one might quote this to inspire others to pursue their dreams fully.
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However gross a man may be, the minute he expresses a strong and genuine affection, some inner secretion alters his features, animates his gestures, and colors his voice. The stupidest man will often, under the stress of passion, achieve heights of eloquence, in thought if not in language, and seem to move in some luminous sphere. Goriot's voice and gesture had at this moment the power of communication that characterizes the great actor. Are not our finer feelings the poems of the human will?
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Love is a religion, and its rituals cost more than those of other religions. It goes by quickly and, like a street urchin, it likes to mark its passage by a trail of devastation.
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