It is scarcely exaggeration to say that if one is not a little mad about Balzac at twenty, one will never live; and if at forty one can still take Rastignac and Lucien de Rubempre at Balzac's own estimate, one has lived in vain.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Passion for Balzac in youth signals life; retaining youthful admiration for his characters by forty means life was wasted.
- In plain terms
- Love Balzac when young; if you still admire his characters at forty, you missed life.
- What can you take from it?
- Let life mature your literary tastes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Which authors define your different ages?
- How has reading changed you?
Another view
Liking Balzac at forty does not necessarily imply stagnation.
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