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Quel que soit le souci que ta jeunesse endure, Laisse-la s'elargir, cette sainte blessure Que les noirs seraphins t'ont faite au fond du coeur ; Rien ne nous rend si grands qu'une grande douleur Mais, pour en etre atteint, ne crois pas, o poete Que ta voix ici-bas doive rester muette. Les plus deseperes sont les chants les plus beaux, Et j'en sais d'immortels qui sont de purs sanglots. ('La Nuit de Mai', 1835)

Alfred de Musset#5

ArtCreativityEmotionGrowthHopePoetryStrengthSuffering

About this quote

What does it mean?
Great pain can elevate a person, and the most powerful art often comes from deep despair.
In plain terms
Suffering can make you great and inspire beautiful art.
What can you take from it?
Emotional pain can fuel creativity and personal growth.

Where it applies

  • creative writing
  • therapeutic expression
  • artistic motivation

Putting it to work

  • channel pain into art
  • find strength in hardship
  • write from emotion

Questions to consider

  • Can suffering improve your work?
  • How do you handle deep sadness?

Another view

Not all pain leads to greatness, and some destroys creativity.

More from Alfred de Musset

  1. Je ne sais ou va mon chemin, mais je marche mieux quand ma main serre la tienne. ('A mon frere revenant d'Italie', mars 1844)

    Permalink to quote #4
  2. On est souvent trompe en amour, souvent blesse et souvent malheureux; mais on aime, et quand on est sur le bord de sa tombe, on se retourne pour regarder en ar…

    Permalink to quote #6
  3. Je suis venu trop tard dans un monde trop vieux. (I have come too late into a world too old.)

    Permalink to quote #3

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