Vicomte De Chateaubriand Quotes

A collection of quotes by Vicomte De Chateaubriand.

Vicomte de Chateaubriand, born François-René de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), was a French writer, politician, diplomat, and historian. He is best known for his literary works, particularly his memoirs and novels, which played a significant role in the development of French Romanticism.

Born in Saint-Malo, France, Chateaubriand came from an aristocratic family and received a traditional education at Jesuit colleges. He initially joined the French army and participated in the American Revolutionary War, where he developed a deep admiration for the ideals of freedom and equality.

After his military service, Chateaubriand embarked on extensive travels, discovering and documenting various cultures and landscapes. His experiences in nature heavily influenced his later works, notably his travelogue "Itinerary from Paris to Jerusalem," which also showcases his profound religious reflections.

Chateaubriand's literary career took off with the publication of his debut novel, "Atala" (1801), a tale of love and sacrifice set among Native Americans. This was followed by his epic novel "René" (1802), which explored themes of melancholy and disillusionment. Both works solidified his reputation as a leading figure in Romantic literature.

Throughout his life, Chateaubriand was actively involved in politics, serving as a diplomat and holding several ministerial positions under different French governments. He was also a staunch royalist, passionately advocating for the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy.

Despite his political involvement, Chateaubriand's literary achievements were his greatest legacy. With his evocative prose and powerful imagination, he contributed to the growth of Romantic literature in France and left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of his time.

Let us not disdain glory too much; nothing is finer, except

Let us not disdain glory too much; nothing is finer, except virtue. The height of happiness would be to unite both in this life.

Vicomte De Chateaubriand

Fame

Perfect works are rare, because they must be produced at the

Perfect works are rare, because they must be produced at the happy moment when taste and genius unite; and this rare conjuncture, like that of certain planets, appears to occur only after the revolution of several cycles, and only lasts for an instant.

Vicomte De Chateaubriand

Perfection

Without taste genius is only a sublime kind of folly. That s

Without taste genius is only a sublime kind of folly. That sure touch which the lyre gives back the right note and nothing more, is even a rarer gift than the creative faculty itself.

Vicomte De Chateaubriand

Style

Aristocracy has three successive ages. First superiority s,

Aristocracy has three successive ages. First superiority s, then privileges and finally vanities. Having passed from the first, it degenerates in the second and dies in the third.

Vicomte De Chateaubriand

Aristocracy