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Man himself is an enigma in motion; his questions never stay asked; whereas the mold, the footprint, and by natural extension, the statue itself, like the vaults, the arches, the temples with which man records his own passing, remain immobile and fix a moment of man’s life, upon which one might endlessly meditate.

— Émile Chartier Les Dieux [The Gods (1934)

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More quotes by Émile Chartier

Happiness is a reward that comes to those that have not looked for it.

Propos sur le bonheur [On Happiness (1928)

Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when you have only one idea.

One must preach life, not death; spread hope, not fear and cultivate joy, man's most valuable treasure. That is the secret of the greatest of the wise, and it will be the light of tomorrow.

Propos sur le bonheur [On Happiness (1928)

If religion is only human, and its form is man’s form, it follows that everything in religion is true.

Les Dieux [The Gods (1934)

Never be insolent unless it is a deliberate decision, and only toward a man more powerful than yourself.

Propos sur le bonheur [On Happiness (1928)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Émile Chartier (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.