Romain Rolland was a French writer and intellectual who left a lasting impact on the world of literature and philosophy. His works, which included novels, essays, and plays, explored themes such as humanism, pacifism, and spirituality. Throughout his life, Rolland also shared his insights and musings through numerous quotes that continue to inspire and connect with readers today.
20 Romain Rolland Quotes
- “If a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself.”
2. “Discussion is impossible with someone who claims not to seek the truth, but already to possess it.”
3. “I know at last what distinguishes man from animals; financial worries.”
4. “Be reverent before the dawning day. Do not think of what will be in a year, or in ten years. Think of to-day.”
5. “Each man must learn his own ideal and try to accomplish it: that is a surer way of progress than to take the ideas of another.”
6. “To understand everything is to hate nothing.”
7. “One makes mistakes; that is life. But it is never a mistake to have loved.”
8. “It is the artist’s business to create sunshine when the sun fails.”
9. “No one ever reads a book. He reads himself through books, either to discover or to control himself.”
10. “Passion is like genius: a miracle.”
Most Famous Romain Rolland Quotes
11. “Everyone, deep down within, carries a small cemetery of those he has loved.”
12. “I find war detestable but those who praise it without participating in it even more so.”
13. “You want to be a hero. That is why you do such silly things.”
14. “History furnishes to politics all the arguments that it needs, for the chosen cause.”
15. “There are some dead who are more alive than the living.”
16. “There is only one heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it.”
17. “There is no joy other than the joy of creating. There is no man who is truly alive other than one who is creating. All others are just shadows on the earth with nothing to do with being alive. The joy of living, whether it is love or action, is the joy of creating.”
18. “Any man who is really a man must learn to be alone in the midst of others, to think alone for others, and, if necessary, against others.”
19. “Love of my country does not demand that I shall hate and slay those noble and faithful souls who also love theirs.”
20. “The more a man lives, the more a man creates, the more a man loves and loses those whom he loves, the more does he escape from death. With every new blow that we have to bear, with every new work that we round and finish, we escape from ourselves, we escape into the work we have created, the soul we have loved, the soul that has left us.”
Additional Read: Romain Rolland – Facts
Romain Rolland was a French writer, philosopher, and musicologist who was born in Clamecy, France, on January 29, 1866. He was a versatile figure in the French cultural scene of the early 20th century and was one of the most prominent intellectuals of his time. He is best known for his extensive and diverse literary output, which includes novel, essays, plays, and biographies.
Rolland’s literary career began with his first novel, “Jean-Christophe,” which he started writing in 1904 and completed in 1912. The novel was a huge success, and it earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1915. “Jean-Christophe” recounts the story of a musician’s life, exploring the themes of art, creativity, and social justice. It is regarded as one of the most important pieces of French literature of the early 20th century.
Aside from his literary efforts, Rolland was also a well-known musicologist. He published heavily on music and musicians, and his biographies of composers such as Beethoven, Michelangelo, and Tolstoy were widely praised for their insightful analysis of the artist’s life and work.
Rolland died on December 30, 1944, at the age of 78, in Vézelay, France. His legacy continues to inspire generations of authors, intellectuals, and activists around the world, and his contribution to French literature and culture is substantial.