Louis-Ferdinand Celine
Louis-Ferdinand Celine
Louis-Ferdinand Céline) was the pen name of Dr. Louis Ferdinand Auguste Destouches, a French novelist, pamphleteer and physician. The name Céline was the first name of his grandmother. He developed a new style of writing that modernized French literature...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth27 May 1894
CountryFrance
anxiety mind too-much
I'd seen too many troubling things to be easy in my mind. I knew too much and not enough. I'd better go out, I said to myself, I'd better go out again.
intelligent men vanity
There's no such thing as intelligent vanity. It's an instinct. And you'll never find a man who is not first and foremost vain.
pain journey imagination
To travel is very useful, it makes the imagination work, the rest is just delusion and pain. Our journey is entirely imaginary, which is its strength.
intelligent thinking giving
We've no use for intellectuals in this outfit. What we need is chimpanzees. Let me give you a word of advice: never say a word to us about being intelligent. We will think for you, my friend. Don't forget it.
insomnia lines trouble
My trouble is insomnia. If I had always slept properly, I'd never have written a line.
hate men stupidity
When men can hate without risk, their stupidity is easily convinced, the motives supply themselves.
dishes
History doesn't pass the dishes again.
might toads duty
If it is your duty to croak like the toad, then go ahead! And with all your might! Make them hear you!
sick use legs
I was a hundred-percent sick, I felt as if I had no further use for my legs, they just hung over the edge of my bed like unimportant and rather ridiculous objects.
wine writing kissing
The novel can't compete with cars, the movies, television, and liquor. A guy who's had a good feed and tanked up on good wine gives his old lady a kiss after supper and his day is over. Finished.
hate men two
Man hardly comes in more than two varieties, wherever he is, whatever he does: workers and pimps ... they're either one or the other! ... and inventors, the worst kind of jobholder! ... they stand condemned! ... the writer who doesn't pimp along, peacefully plagiarizing, who doesn't pump out the pop stuff, he's had it! ... everybody hates him!
letting-go luxury littles
When you're not used to comfort and good things to eat, you're intoxicated by them in no time. Truth's only too pleased to leave you. Very little is ever needed for Truth to let go of you. And after all, you're not really very keen to keep hold of it.
carpe-diem years people
Most people die at the last minute; others twenty years beforehand, some even earlier. They are the wretched of the earth.
rejection innovation rejected
All great innovations are built on rejections.