Quote by Anatole France, The Crime of Syl
Night has come! Leaning from the window, we gaze at the vast sombre stretch of the city below us, pierced with multitudinous points of light. Jeanne presses her hand to her forehead as she leans upon the window-bar, and seems a little sad. And I say to myself as I watch her: All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves: we must die in one life before we can enter into another! And as if answering my thought, the young girl murmurs to me. My guardian, I am so happy; and still I feel as if I wanted to cry!http://www.archive.org/stream/crimeofsylvestre00franuoft/crimeofsylvestre00franuoft_djvu.txt
Summary
This quote captures the bittersweet feeling of embarking on a new journey or experiencing change. Looking out at the city below her, Jeanne feels a sense of sadness, knowing that leaving certain aspects of her current life behind is inevitable. The narrator reflects on the idea that all changes, no matter how desired, carry a certain level of melancholy because they require letting go of a part of ourselves. Despite feeling happy and excited, Jeanne also feels a conflicted desire to cry, highlighting the complexity of emotions that can arise during times of transition.
Topics
Change
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