Life never presents us with anything which may not be looked upon as a fresh starting point, no less than as a termination.
Andre GideRead
The novelist does not long to see the_x000D_ lion eat grass. He realizes that one and_x000D_ the same God created the wolf and the_x000D_ lamb, then smiled, “seeing that his_x000D_ work was good.”
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the acceptance of duality in nature and creativity.
Andre Gide's quote highlights the complex relationship between opposing forces in life, such as predator and prey, and suggests that both are an essential part of the world created by God. The novelist, as a storyteller, understands that this duality is inherent to existence and that each aspect contributes to the beauty of creation.
Themes
DualityCreationNatureAcceptanceArt
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a creative writing workshop to inspire writers to embrace complexity in their characters.
More from Andre Gide
All quotes →Do not do what someone else could do as well as you. Do not say, do not write what someone else could say, could write as well as you. Care for nothing in yourself but what you feel exists nowhere else. And, out of yourself create, impatiently or patiently, the most irreplaceable of beings.
Andre GideRead
Old hands soil, it seems, whatever they caress, but they too have their beauty when they are joined in prayer. Young hands were made for caresses and the sheathing of love. It is a pity to make them join too soon.
Andre GideRead
Through fear of resembling one another, through horror of having to submit, through uncertainty as well, through skepticism and complexity, there is a multitude of individual little beliefs for the triumph of strange little individuals.
Andre GideRead
It is the special quality of love not to be able to remain stationary, to be obliged to increase under pain of diminishing.
Andre GideRead
It is with noble sentiments that bad literature gets written.
Andre GideRead
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