“We imagine always when we speak that it is our own ears, our own mind, that are listening. The truth which one puts into one's words does not carve out a direct path for itself, it is not irresistibly self-evident. A considerable time must elapse before a truth of the same order can take shape in them.”

French novelist and essayist of the early 20th century, Proust is best known for his monumental seven-volume novel *In Search of Lost Time*, a deeply introspective exploration of memory, time, and human experience. His lyrical prose and psychological depth have made him a cornerstone of modern literature.