10 Life Lessons to Learn from Guy de Maupassant’s Timeless Tales

“It is the lives we encounter that make life worth living.” – Guy de Maupassant

In this simple yet profound statement, 19th century French writer Guy de Maupassant captures a fundamental truth about the human experience.

For Maupassant, it is our connections with others – the joys, sorrows, and struggles we share – that give life its richness and meaning.

So what can we learn from this iconic author about living a fulfilling life? Maupassant’s stories offer a treasure trove of wisdom on everything from the perils of self-deception to the importance of savoring life’s fleeting beauty. 

1. True Happiness Comes from Within

In Maupassant’s story “The Necklace,” the protagonist Mathilde borrows an expensive-looking necklace, only to lose it and spend years paying off a replacement, later discovering the original was fake. 

The lesson? Pursuing external validation and material things won’t bring lasting happiness. True contentment comes from appreciating what you have.

2. Appearances Can Be Deceiving

Many of Maupassant’s stories revolve around secrets, hidden motives, and things not being what they seem on the surface. In “The Horla,” the narrator is convinced an invisible being is controlling him, but it’s implied his perceptions may be distorted.

Similarly, in real life, first impressions and assumptions can often lead us astray. Take the time to look beneath the surface.

Question your beliefs and be open to new information that challenges what you thought you knew. Things are often more complex than they appear.

3. Appreciate the Beauty of Nature

Maupassant had a deep love of nature, as evidenced in lyrical descriptions like this one from “Moonlight”: “The full moon rose in the east veiled in a light fog.” He found inspiration and solace in the natural world.

Make time to unplug and appreciate the simple beauty around you, whether it’s a majestic sunset or a humble flower pushing through a sidewalk crack. Nature puts things in perspective.

4. Don’t Judge Others Too Harshly

Maupassant was a keen observer of people and their foibles. Many of his stories reveal the hypocrisy of those who are quick to condemn others, like the gossiping villagers in “The Piece of String.”

It’s easy to criticize others, especially when we don’t know the full story. But as Maupassant shows, snap judgements are often inaccurate or unfairly harsh.

Have compassion and give others the benefit of the doubt. You never know what private struggles someone may be facing.

5. Live for the Moment

In stories like “Boule de Suif,” Maupassant depicts how quickly fortunes can change and how fleeting life is. His characters are frequently grappling with life’s unpredictability and ephemerality.

With no guarantees about the future, it’s important to embrace and fully live each moment. Take chances, tell people you love them, have adventures. Time is the one resource you can never get back. 

6. Social Expectations Can Be Stifling

Stories like “Ball of Fat” skewer the hypocrisy and oppression of social conventions. Maupassant had disdain for the rigid expectations and shallow values of French bourgeois culture.

Don’t let external expectations dictate your life. Have the courage to be your authentic self, even if that means going against the grain. Life is too short to live according to someone else’s rules.

7. Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness

In “The Jewelry,” a husband realizes after his wife’s death that the jewelry he thought proved her love and fidelity was paste, given to her by wealthy lovers. The story suggests chasing wealth ultimately rings hollow.

Research confirms that once your basic needs are met, additional income does little to boost satisfaction. (ref)

Rather than getting caught up in the race for more, focus on the things that truly enrich your life – meaningful work, relationships, experiences. Prioritize what matters, not matter.

8. Be Careful What You Wish For

In “The Talisman,” a prostitute obtains an African charm she believes grants wishes but each wish comes at a terrible cost. Maupassant warns that getting what we think we want can be a curse.

Often in life, the things we chase most fervently – whether wealth, beauty, status, or an idealized relationship – don’t deliver the fulfillment we expected once we obtain them.

When tempted to think “if only I had X, I’d be happy,” consider that the dream may be better than the reality. Happiness is in enjoying the journey.

9. Question Authority

Maupassant stories like “An Adventure in Paris” point out the absurdities of bureaucracy and skewer those in power. He was skeptical of authority and alive to injustice.

It’s easy to passively accept the dictates of those in charge. But power doesn’t equal infallibility.

Rather than automatically deferring to authority, cultivate critical thinking. Speak truth to power when your conscience demands it. Change starts with ordinary individuals who are willing to take a stand.

10. Embrace Your Shadow Side

Maupassant’s fiction boldly explores the darker aspects of human nature – lust, greed, cruelty, our irrational impulses. He acknowledged we all have a shadow side.

Rather than disowning the less savory parts of yourself, see them with compassionate awareness. Repressing the shadow only makes it stronger.

When you embrace your full humanity, you can channel those energies consciously. Accepting your flaws and weaknesses, you’re less controlled by them.