Quotes from book
Juan Criistobal

Romain Rolland Original title Jean-Christophe (French, 1904)

Jean-Christophe is the novel in 10 volumes by Romain Rolland for which he received the Prix Femina in 1905 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1915. It was translated into English by Gilbert Cannan.


Romain Rolland photo

“Be reverent before the dawning day. Do not think of what will be in a year, or in ten years. Think of to-day.”

Gottfried to Jean-Christophe. Part 3: Ada
Jean-Christophe (1904 - 1912), Youth (1904)
Source: Jean Christophe Vol I
Context: Be reverent before the dawning day. Do not think of what will be in a year, or in ten years. Think of to-day. Leave your theories. All theories, you see, even those of virtue, are bad, foolish, mischievous. Do not abuse life. Live in to-day. Be reverent towards each day.
Context: Be reverent before the dawning day. Do not think of what will be in a year, or in ten years. Think of to-day. Leave your theories. All theories, you see, even those of virtue, are bad, foolish, mischievous. Do not abuse life. Live in to-day. Be reverent towards each day. Love it, respect it, do not sully it, do not hinder it from coming to flower. Love it even when it is gray and sad like to-day. Do not be anxious. See. It is winter now. Everything is asleep. The good earth will awake again. You have only to be good and patient like the earth. Be reverent. Wait. If you are good, all will go well. If you are not, if you are weak, if you do not succeed, well, you must be happy in that. No doubt it is the best you can do. So, then, why will? Why be angry because of what you cannot do? We all have to do what we can.... Als ich kann.

Similar authors

Romain Rolland photo
Romain Rolland 43
French author 1866–1944
Francois Mauriac photo
Francois Mauriac 38
French author
Albert Camus photo
Albert Camus 209
French author and journalist
André Maurois photo
André Maurois 202
French writer
Romain Gary photo
Romain Gary 16
French writer and diplomat
Louis-ferdinand Céline photo
Louis-ferdinand Céline 88
French writer
Henri Barbusse photo
Henri Barbusse 197
French novelist
Marcel Proust photo
Marcel Proust 41
French novelist, critic, and essayist
Milan Kundera photo
Milan Kundera 198
Czech author of Czech and French literature
Jacques Prevért photo
Jacques Prevért 12
French poet, screenwriter