# Nana - Author: [Emile Zola](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emile-zola.md) - Quotes: 26 - Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/emile-zola/nana ## Quotes > Must a woman know how to act and sing? Oh, my chicken, you're too stoopid: Nana has other good points, by Heaven!—something which is as good as all the other things put together. > Then Nana started on la Faloise at once. He had for some time been longing for the honour of being ruined by her in order to put the finishing stroke on his smartness. > He experienced keen pleasure mingled with remorse, the kind of pleasure known only to Catholics who, in the midst of sin, are goaded by the fear of hell. > All of a sudden, in the good-natured child the woman stood revealed, a disturbing woman with all the impulsive madness of her sex, opening the gates of the unknown world of desire. Nana was still smiling, but with the deadly smile of a man-eater. > Like those antique monsters whose redoubtable domains were covered with skeletons, she rested her feet on human skulls. She was ringed round with catastrophes. Topics: [evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evil.md) > She had not taken her hat off, and she wore a dark dress of an indecisive colour midway between puce and goose dripping. > Satin occupied a couple of rooms, which a chemist had furnished for her in order to save her from the clutches of the police; but in little more than a twelvemonth she had broken the furniture, knocked in the chairs, dirtied the curtains, and that in a manner so furiously filthy and untidy, that the lodgings seemed as though inhabited by a pack of mad cats. > Foucarmont had twice fought duels, and he was in consequence most politely treated, and admitted into every circle. Topics: [society](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/society.md) > At every mouthful Nana swallowed an acre. > You know, I'm disgusted when dirty little boys run after old women. > She offered herself to him with that quiet expression which is peculiar to a good-natured courtesan. > Existence is so bitter for every one of us! Ought we not to forgive others much, my friend, if we wish to merit forgiveness ourselves? > The rage for debasing things was inborn in her. It did not suffice her to destroy them, she must soil them too. Topics: [evil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evil.md) > The air there was heavy with the somnolence which accompanies a long vigil, and the lamps cast a wavering light, whilst their burnt-out wicks glowed red within their globes. The ladies had reached that vaguely melancholy hour when they felt it necessary to tell each other their histories. > She was listening to his proposals, and continually refusing them with shakes of the head, and that temptress's laughter which is peculiar to a voluptuous blonde. > He was a young dandy, and his habiliments, even to his gloves, were entirely yellow. > A ruined man fell from her hands like a ripe fruit, to rot on the ground by himself. Topics: [passion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/passion.md) > The curtain fell on an apotheosis, wherein the Cuckold's Chorus knelt and sang a hymn of gratitude to Venus, who stood there with smiling lips, her stature enhanced by her sovran nudity. Topics: [art](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/art.md) > Great disorders lead to great conversions. Providence would have its opportunity. Topics: [religion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/religion.md) > The Russians had a great taste for her owing to her embonpoint. > Both women, looking different ways, kept shrugging their shoulders, and asking themselves how the deuce the other could tell such woppers! Topics: [lies](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/lies.md) > The courtesans, as Vandeuvres used to say, avenged public morality by emptying his money bags. Topics: [morality](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/morality.md), [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md) > The night threatened to end in the unloveliest way. In a corner by themselves, Maria Blond and Léa de Horn had begun squabbling at close quarters, the former accusing the latter of consorting with people of insufficient wealth. Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md) > Wasn't it true that the moment two women were together in the presence of their lovers their first idea was to do one another out of them? It was a law of nature! Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md) > Madame Jules was a woman of no age. She had the parchment skin and changeless features peculiar to old maids whom no one ever knew in their younger years. > Amid that company of gentlemen with the great names and the old upright traditions;, the two women sat face to face, exchanging tender glances, conquering, reigning, in tranquil defiance of the laws of sex, in open contempt for the male portion of the community. The gentlemen burst into applause. Topics: [women](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/women.md)