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86 Inspirational Quotes By Roland Barthes That Will Touch Every Aspect Of Your Life

Famous As: French Literary Theorist Best Known for His Essay Collection 'Mythologies' and His Essay 'The Death of the Author'
Born On: 1915
Died On: 1980
Born In: Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France
Died At Age: 64

Roland Barthes was a pioneer literary theorist, philosopher and linguist whose works had a profound impact on structuralism, semiotics and anthropology. Here are a few interesting facts from the life of this renowned mythologist.

He wrote on a variety of faux passes --  plastic, strip tease, wrestling, steak and chips and “the new Citroen" -- existing in the twentieth century to disenchant citizens against advertising. 

The theorist used everyday objects such as mushrooming brands of detergents to explain consumerism and how businesses are exploiting people through advertising.

The essayist was a huge fan of Havana cigars and one could easily spot him with a stick.

Barthes was vocal against the abuse of advertisement. Ironically, he was killed by a laundry truck which bore a banner advertising the laundry. He met with the fatal accident while he was returning from the lunch hosted by future President of France Francois Mitterrand.

In the segment below we bring to you inspirational quotes by the famous French literary theorist Roland Barthes.

I am interested in language because it wounds or seduces me.

I am interested in language because it wounds or seduces me.

Roland Barthes
Each of us has his own rhythm of suffering.

Each of us has his own rhythm of suffering.

Roland Barthes
Language is a skin: I rub my language against the other. It is as if I had words instead of fingers, or fingers at the tip of my words. My language trembles with desire.

Language is a skin: I rub my language against the other. It is as if I had words instead of fingers, or fingers at the tip of my words. My language trembles with desire.

Roland Barthes
I encounter millions of bodies in my life; of these millions, I may desire some hundreds; but of these hundreds, I love only one.

I encounter millions of bodies in my life; of these millions, I may desire some hundreds; but of these hundreds, I love only one.

Roland Barthes
To whom could I put this question (with any hope of an answer)? Does being able to live without someone you loved mean you loved her less than you thought...?

To whom could I put this question (with any hope of an answer)? Does being able to live without someone you loved mean you loved her less than you thought...?

Roland Barthes
Someone tells me: this kind of love is not viable. But how can you evaluate viability? Why is the viable a Good Thing? Why is it better to last than to burn?

Someone tells me: this kind of love is not viable. But how can you evaluate viability? Why is the viable a Good Thing? Why is it better to last than to burn?

Roland Barthes
...language is never innocent.

...language is never innocent.

Roland Barthes
What the Photograph reproduces to infinity has occurred only once: the Photograph mechanically repeats what could never be repeated existentially.

What the Photograph reproduces to infinity has occurred only once: the Photograph mechanically repeats what could never be repeated existentially.

Roland Barthes
The bastard form of mass culture is humiliated repetition... always new books, new programs, new films, news items, but always the same meaning.

The bastard form of mass culture is humiliated repetition... always new books, new programs, new films, news items, but always the same meaning.

Roland Barthes
The lover's fatal identity is precisely this: I am the one who waits.

The lover's fatal identity is precisely this: I am the one who waits.

Roland Barthes
…the book creates meaning, the meaning creates life.

…the book creates meaning, the meaning creates life.

Roland Barthes
This endured absence is nothing more or less than forgetfulness. I am, intermittently, unfaithful. This is the condition of my survival.

This endured absence is nothing more or less than forgetfulness. I am, intermittently, unfaithful. This is the condition of my survival.

Roland Barthes
Don't say mourning. It's too psychoanalytic. I'm not mourning. I'm suffering.

Don't say mourning. It's too psychoanalytic. I'm not mourning. I'm suffering.

Roland Barthes
I make the other’s absence responsible for my worldliness.

I make the other’s absence responsible for my worldliness.

Roland Barthes
Isn’t the most sensitive point of this mourning the fact that I must lose a language — the amorous language? No more ‘I love you’s.

Isn’t the most sensitive point of this mourning the fact that I must lose a language — the amorous language? No more ‘I love you’s.

Roland Barthes
To make someone wait: the constant prerogative of all power,

To make someone wait: the constant prerogative of all power, "age-old pastime of humanity".

Roland Barthes
We know that the war against intelligence is always waged in the name of common sense.

We know that the war against intelligence is always waged in the name of common sense.

Roland Barthes
Writing is the destruction of every voice, of every point of origin.

Writing is the destruction of every voice, of every point of origin.

Roland Barthes
All of a sudden it didn't bother me not being modern.

All of a sudden it didn't bother me not being modern.

Roland Barthes
The incapacity to name is a good symptom of disturbance.

The incapacity to name is a good symptom of disturbance.

Roland Barthes
I have not a desire but a need for solitude.

I have not a desire but a need for solitude.

Roland Barthes
What love lays bare in me is energy.

What love lays bare in me is energy.

Roland Barthes
Literature is that which he can not read without pain, without choking on truth.

Literature is that which he can not read without pain, without choking on truth.

Roland Barthes
Every exploration is an appropriation.

Every exploration is an appropriation.

Roland Barthes
As a language, Garbo's singularity was of the order of the concept, that of Audrey Hepburn is of the order of the substance; the face of Garbo is an Idea, that of Hepburn, an Event.

As a language, Garbo's singularity was of the order of the concept, that of Audrey Hepburn is of the order of the substance; the face of Garbo is an Idea, that of Hepburn, an Event.

Roland Barthes
All those young photographers who are at work in the world, determined upon the capture of actuality, do not know that they are agents of Death.

All those young photographers who are at work in the world, determined upon the capture of actuality, do not know that they are agents of Death.

Roland Barthes
Literature is without proofs. By which it must be understood that it cannot prove, not only what it says, but even that it is worth the trouble of saying it.

Literature is without proofs. By which it must be understood that it cannot prove, not only what it says, but even that it is worth the trouble of saying it.

Roland Barthes
What I claim is to live to the full the contradiction of my time, which may well make sarcasm the condition of truth.

What I claim is to live to the full the contradiction of my time, which may well make sarcasm the condition of truth.

Roland Barthes
Suicide

How would I know I don’t suffer any more, if I’m dead?

Suicide How would I know I don’t suffer any more, if I’m dead?

Roland Barthes
We don’t forget, but something vacant settles in us.

We don’t forget, but something vacant settles in us.

Roland Barthes