Profile of a World-Changer: George Sand

Most of us suffer under the delusion that we, as individuals, are powerless to make much difference on a planet that’s home to more than seven billion people—not to mention some enormous corporate interests that are intent on preserving our current murderous practices vis-à-vis our environment.   That’s why it’s a good idea to celebrate the lives of people who, fortunately for us all, simply didn’t fall into that psychological trap.

It’s the birthday of French author George Sand (pictured with Frederic Chopin), thus a good opportunity to consider how single individuals can change the course of history.  According to the Writer’s Almanac:

She was a prolific writer; she wrote more than 90 novels, 35 plays, and a multi-volume autobiography.

Sand was one of the most famous women of her time, not just for her writing but for her scandalous behavior – everything from her men’s clothing and cigars to her sexual exploits were in the public eye. She had a long string of lovers, including Frédéric Chopin, and her many friends included Honoré de Balzac, Émile Zola, Eugène Delacroix, Ivan Turgenev, and Gustave Flaubert. Sand and Flaubert were especially close, although the two novelists disagreed on just about everything from politics to the role of women to the purpose of art. They spent long hours together, smoking and discussing literature and humanity; they exchanged frequent letters, and read each other’s unpublished work. Sand was 17 years older than Flaubert; he addressed his letters to her “dear master,” while she addressed hers “friend of my heart.”

She said: “The world will know and understand me someday. But if that day does not arrive, it does not greatly matter. I shall have opened the way for other women.”

Sand did indeed open the way to higher values.  Her life stands as a reminder that we’re all capable of doing the same.