Centre for Romanian Studies

Romanian Dictionary of Quotations, Selected & Translated by Constantin ROMAN: Letter ‘E’

East:
“The light comes from the East.”
(Mihail SADOVEANU, (1880, Pascani-1961), Writer, Politician, Turncoat)

East:
“The Soviets? I asked. Because in our country automatically all misfortune comes from the East, from Russia, from the Soviets.”
(Rev. Virgil GHEORGHIU, (1916-1992), Writer, Orthodox Priest, Exile)
(Memoires, Eds du Rocher, Paris, 1990)

Ecstasy:
“Ecstasy has to be paid for by humiliation, prison, misuse, public repudiation, contempt and denial by disciples. It is right that it should be so; it is an integral part of the workings of destiny.”
(Petru DUMITRIU, Writer, Exile, Turncoat)
(«Incognito», Collins, 1964)

Education:
“The education of little Catherine was started by women who had no education.”
(Marthe BIBESCO, (1886-1973), Writer and Socialite, Exile)

Essence:
“It is impossible to express something real only by the imitation of the external surface. What is real is only essence. If one comes close to real essence of things, one reaches simplicity itself.”
(Constantin BRANCUSI (1876-1957), Sculptor, Exile)

Eternity:
“I too have taken a few steps on the sands of Eternity.”
(Constantin BRANCUSI (1876-1957), Sculptor, Exile)

Everybody:
“Everybody’s universe is universal”
(Eugene IONESCO (1912-1994), Dramatist, Exile)
(“Journal en miettes”)

Example:
“Setting an example is seminal, so we are not left alone even when we set the example to a hermit.”
(Constantin BRANCUSI (1876-1957), Sculptor, Exile)

Exile:
“I cry, with Psalm 136, the captivity of Babylon. For me, like for the Jews deported to Babylon, it is no longer imaginable to write poems in exile. I lost my country, my people is captive. The exile shuts the mouth”
(Fr. Virgil GHEORGHIU, (1916-1992), Writer, Orthodox Priest, Exile)
(Memoires, Eds du Rocher, Paris, 1990)

Exile:
“How could I enjoy the peace of creating orchestras and music among foreigners, rather than in my country of birth”?
(Sergiu CELIBIDACHE (1912-1996), Conductor, Composer, Exile)

Exile:
“You are suffering for being far away from your kith and kin, from the sky and the land where you were born. You should know that one and the same sky covers our wounded land and that your exile is only an initiation. Do not be sad during your stay in Tomis, rather prepare yourself for the life beyond, the eternal life, which is not far, where suffering is unknown, as the time finds its meaning only within the confines of suffering.”
(Vintila HORIA (1915-1992),
Writer, Diplomat, Exile)
(“Dieu est né en exil”, Fayard, 1960)

AUTHORS:
Marthe BIBESCO, Constantin BRANCUSI, Sergiu CELIBIDACHE, Petru DUMITRIU, Virgil GHEORGHIU, Vintila HORIA, Eugene IONESCO, Mihail SADOVEANU,

KEY WORDS:
East, Ecstasy, Education, Essence, Eternity, Everybody, Example, Exile,