Octave Mirbeau, (1848-1917) French journalist, art critic, pamphleteer, novelist, and playwright Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-1] of 1 Octave Mirbeau quotesOctave Mirbeau QuotesOctave Mirbeau You're obliged to pretend respect for people and institutions you think absurd. You live attached in a cowardly fashion to moral and social conventions you despise, condemn, and know lack all foundation. It is that permanent contradiction between your ideas and desires and all the dead formalities and vain pretenses of your civilization which makes you sad, troubled and unbalanced. In that intolerable conflict you lose all joy of life and all feeling of personality, because at every moment they suppress and restrain and check the free play of your powers. That's the poisoned and mortal wound of the civilized world.~ Octave Mirbeau Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print