Often, when they spoke of Paris, she would murmur: 'Ah! How happy we'd be, living there!' 'Aren't we happy here?' the young would softly ask, passing his hand over her hair.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The woman yearns for an idealized life in Paris while her partner questions their current happiness.
- In plain terms
- She dreams of a better life elsewhere even though her partner thinks they are already happy.
- What can you take from it?
- Dreaming of elsewhere can obscure present contentment.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does happiness look like to you?
- Are you waiting for a place to feel content?
Another view
It overlooks that dissatisfaction might stem from internal issues rather than location.
More from Gustave Flaubert
A clear day's warmth will often move / A lass to stray in dreams of love
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