Louis-Ferdinand Céline quotes

Experience is a dim lamp, which only lights the one who bears it. (Louis-Ferdinand Céline)
We've no use for intellectuals in this outfit. What we need is chimpanzees. Let me give you a word of advice: never say a word to us about being intelligent. We will think for you, my friend. Don't forget it. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Almost every desire a poor man has is a punishable offence.[16]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
If you aren't rich you should always look useful. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
To philosophize is only another way of being afraid and leads hardly anywhere but to cowardly make-believe. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Living, just by itself - what a dirge that is! Life is a classroom and Boredom's the usher, there all the time to spy on you; whatever happens, you've got to look as if you were awfully busy all the time doing something that's terribly exciting - or he'll come along and nibble your brain.[32]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
I have never voted in my life... I have always known and understood that the idiots are in a majority so it's certain they will win. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
The sadness of the world has different ways of getting to people, but it seems to succeed almost every time. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
I warn you that when the princes of this world start loving you it means they are going to grind you up into battle sausage. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
The biggest defeat in every department of life is to forget, especially the things that have done you in, and to die without realizing how far people can go in the way of crumminess. When the grave lies open before us, let's not try to be witty, but record the worst of human viciousness we've seen without changing one word. When that's done, we can curl up our toes and sink into the pit. That's work enough for a lifetime. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
In the kitchens of love, after all, vice is like the pepper in a good sauce; it brings out the flavour, it's indispensable." ― [6]. (Louis-Ferdinand Céline)
Philosophizing is simply one way of being afraid, a cowardly pretense that doesn't get you anywhere. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
A man should be resigned to knowing himself a little better each day if he hasn't got the guts to put an end to his sniveling once and for all. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Troubles are as endless as pleasures are brief. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Life must go on, even if it's no joke... just pretend to believe in the future. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
In circumstances of real tragedy you see things straight away...past, present, and future together. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
- (Lola): Only mad men and cowards refuse to go to the war, when their homeland is in danger! - (Bardamu): So, hurrah for the mad men and the cowards! ― [6]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
The three radios, the six cars, the four refrigerators, the seven telephones in each of the 300,000 Jewish households, and the super-television![51]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
I cannot refrain from doubting that there exist other genuine realizations of our deepest character than war and illness, those two infinities of nightmare.[39]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
The one who talks about the future is a rascal. The present is the only thing that matters. To invoke one's posterity is to make a speech to maggots. [4]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
I believed in her body, I didn't believe in her soul. I thought of Lola as a charming goldbrick, miles away from the war, miles away from life. (Louis-Ferdinand Céline)
In this society which we are induced to frequent, composed above all of politicians and artists, one cannot realize one's true worth.[99]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Love is infinity - come down to poodles'level.[1]. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Anybody who talks about the future is a bastard, it's the present that counts. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline
A woman who spends her time worrying about pregnancy is a virtual cripple; she'll never go very far. View quote
Louis-Ferdinand Céline