Ideas consume the ages as passions consume men. When man is cured, humanity may possibly cure itself.
• Ch. V: The Alchemists
• Ch. V: The Alchemists
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Les idées dévorent les siècles comme les hommes sont dévorés par leurs passions. Quand l'homme sera guéri, l'humanité se guérira peut-être.
— Ideas consume the ages as passions consume men. When man is cured, humanity may possibly cure itself.
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Les idées dévorent les siècles comme les hommes sont dévorés par leurs passions. Quand l'homme sera guéri, l'humanité se guérira peut-être." in the context of "Ideas consume the ages as passions consume men. When man is cured, humanity may possibly cure itself.
• Ch. V: The Alchemists" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Honoré de Balzac" (Quotes, About Catherine de' Medici (1842), Part II: The Ruggieri's Secret)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Honoré de Balzac
Honoré de Balzac (20 May 1799 – 18 August 1850) was a French novelist. Along with Flaubert, he is generally regarded as a founding father of realism in European literature.
About Honoré de Balzac
Honoré de Balzac (20 May 1799 – 18 August 1850) was a French novelist. Along with Flaubert, he is generally regarded as a founding father of realism in European literature.
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