“When one does something, one must do it wholly and well. Those bastard existences where you sell suet all day and write poetry at night are made for mediocre minds – like those horses that are equally good for saddle and carriage, the worst kind, that can neither jump a ditch nor pull a plow.”

French novelist and critic of the 19th century, Flaubert is best known for his meticulous craftsmanship and literary realism, exemplified by masterpieces like *Madame Bovary*. His relentless pursuit of perfection in prose and his sharp critiques of societal hypocrisy remain influential in modern writing.