# Thérèse Raquin - Author: [Emile Zola](https://www.leafyquotes.com/emile-zola.md) - Quotes: 26 - Book page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/emile-zola/therese-raquin ## Quotes > In reality, one single thought tormented them: they were irritated at their crime, and in despair at having for ever troubled their lives. > Sometimes, forcing themselves to hope, they sought to resume the burning dreams of other days, and were quite astonished to find they had no imagination. > It was like a lightning flash of passion, swift and blinding in a leaden sky. > When there is no hope in the future, the present appears atrociously bitter. > The idea of death, blurted out in despair between a couple of kisses, returned implacable and keen. > This woman was as necessary to his life as eating and drinking. > The nature of the circumstances seemed to have made this woman for this man, and to have thrust one towards the other. > She liked this young fellow with that expansive feeling that old women display for people who come from their own part of the country, bringing with them memories of the past. > He knew that henceforth, all his days would resemble one another, and bring him equal suffering. And he saw the weeks, months and years gloomily and implacably awaiting him, coming one after the other to fall upon him and gradually smother him. Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [the future](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/the-future.md) > After a time, she believed in the reality of this comedy. Topics: [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md), [appearances](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/appearances.md) > The sort of remorse Laurent experienced was purely physical. His body, his irritated nerves and trembling frame alone were afraid of the drowned man. His conscience was for nothing in his terror. He did not feel the least regret at having killed Camille. When he was calm, when the spectre did not happen to be there, he would have committed the murder over again, had he thought his interests absolutely required it. Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md) > The couple fell one atop of the other, struck down, finding consolation, at last, in death. Topics: [death](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/death.md) > She would have cursed the Almighty had she been able to shout out a blasphemy. Providence had deceived her for over sixty years, by treating her as a gentle, good little girl, by amusing her with lying representations of tranquil joy. And she had remained a child, senselessly believing in a thousand silly things, and unable to see life as it really is, dragging along in the sanguinary filth of passions. Providence was bad; it should have told her the truth before, or have allowed her to continue in her innocence and blindness. Now, it only remained for her to die, denying love, denying friendship, denying devotedness. Nothing existed but murder and lust. Topics: [illusions](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/illusions.md) > For Madame Raquin, there was such a fathomless depth in this thought, that she could neither reason it out, nor grasp it clearly. She experienced but one sensation, that of a horrible disaster; it seemed to her that she was falling into a dark, cold hole. And she said to herself: "I shall be smashed to pieces at the bottom." Topics: [fear](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/fear.md) > When they seated themselves in their carriage, they seemed to be greater strangers than before. Topics: [relationships](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/relationships.md) > In the sudden change that had come over her heart, she no longer recognised herself. Topics: [change](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/change.md) > The young woman seemed to take pleasure in being bold and shameless. She had no hesitation, no fear whatsoever. She threw herself into adultery with a sort of vigorous sincerity, defying danger and doing so with a sort of vanity in her defiance. > She made a savage, angry effort at revolt, and, then all at once gave in. They exchanged not a word. The act was silent and brutal. Topics: [passion](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/passion.md) > Nothing could be more heartrending than this mute and motionless despair. Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md) > The only ambition of this great powerful frame was to do nothing, to grovel in idleness and satiation from hour to hour. He wanted to eat well, sleep well, to abundantly satisfy his passions, without moving from his place, without running the risk of the slightest fatigue. Topics: [desire](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/desire.md) > Like certain devotees, who fancy they will deceive the Almighty, and secure pardon by praying with their lips, and assuming the humble attitude of penitence, Thérèse displayed humility, striking her chest, finding words of repentance, without having anything at the bottom of her heart save fear and cowardice. Topics: [hypocrisy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hypocrisy.md) > They have stifled me with their middle-class gentleness, and I can hardly understand how it is that there is still blood in my veins. I have lowered my eyes, and given myself a mournful, idiotic face like theirs. I have led their deathlike life. Topics: [freedom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/freedom.md) > A writer of great talent, to whom I complained of the little sympathy I have met with, made me this profound answer: "You have an immense fault which will close all doors against you: you cannot converse for two minutes with a fool without showing him that he is one." Topics: [stupidity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stupidity.md) > The critics greeted this book with a churlish and horrified outcry. Certain virtuous people, in newspapers no less virtuous, made a grimace of disgust as they picked it up with the tongs to throw it into the fire. Even the minor literary reviews, the ones that retail nightly the tittle-tattle from alcoves and private rooms, held their noses and talked of filth and stench. I am not complaining about this reception; on the contrary I am delighted to observe that my colleagues have such maidenly susceptibilities. Topics: [hypocrisy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/hypocrisy.md), [literature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/literature.md) > Thérèse, residing in damp obscurity, in gloomy, crushing silence, saw life expand before her in all its nakedness, each night bringing the same cold couch, and each morn the same empty day. Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md) > Thérèse could not find one human being, not one living being among these grotesque and sinister creatures, with whom she was shut up; sometimes she had hallucinations, she imagined herself buried at the bottom of a tomb, in company with mechanical corpses, who, when the strings were pulled, moved their heads, and agitated their legs and arms. Topics: [loneliness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/loneliness.md)