Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve quotes

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve was a renowned French literary critic and author. His insightful essays and literary histories greatly influenced the field of literary criticism in the 19th century. He became famous for his biographical approach to analyzing literature and remains a foundational figure in literary studies. Here are 11 of his quotes:

A philosophical thought has probably not attained all its sharpness and all its illumination until it is expressed in French.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

Since it is necessary to have enemies, let us endeavour to have those who do us honour.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

To lend freshness to things known, to spread knowledge of things new; an excellent program for a critic.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

Let us beware of irony when making judgements. Of all the dispositions of the mind, irony is the least intelligent.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

Most often we are judging not others, but rather our own faculties in others.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

...I can savor a work, but it is difficult for me to judge it independently from the author, and I would gladly say, as is the tree, so is the fruit.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

For the soul arrives therebye at a certain fixed and invincible state, a state which is genuinely heroic, and from out of which the greatest deeds it ever performs are executed.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

Silence is the sovereign contempt.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve

Injustice...is a mother who is never barren, and bears children worthy of her.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve