"Human speech is like a cracked kettle on which we tap crude rhythms for bears to dance to, while we long to make music that will melt the stars"
- Gustave Flaubert
About this Quote
In this quote, Gustave Flaubert compares human speech to a split kettle, recommending that it is imperfect and flawed. He then goes on to say that we use this imperfect speech to create unrefined rhythms, perhaps describing the method we interact and express ourselves. However, these rhythms are only suggested for bears to dance to, indicating that they are not advanced or significant. Flaubert then exposes our real desire, which is to make music that is so lovely and effective that it can melt the stars. This quote highlights the limitations of human speech and our longing for something greater and more transcendent.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away"
"We worked very hard to make the lyrics suit the music. I can't, like Elton John, for example, compose by lyrics. Elton has a great talent for that. Whatever you give him, including your questions, he composes in half an hour and makes a great song out of it"
