Who really said it
QI locates the French in Post-Scriptum de Ma Vie (1901) and this wording in Lorenzo O’Rourke’s English translation (1907).
Last verified 9 Nov 2026 · how we verify · spot an error?
For presentations
Verified quote & credit
“In a woman the flesh must be like marble; in a statue the marble must be like flesh” — Victor Hugo, Victor Hugo’s Intellectual Autobiography, translated by Lorenzo O’Rourke (1907); exact wording documented by Quote Investigator.
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In context
Evoking the world of Victor Hugo — French writer. Theme: "In a woman the flesh must be like marble; in a statue the marble must be like flesh". Atmospheric and restrained, cinematic directional light, a muted period-appropriate palette, fine grain and texture. Compose with generous empty space for the quote and a small credit line. No lettering in the image itself.
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Provenance
In a woman the flesh must be like marble; in a statue the marble must be like flesh.
Quote InvestigatorHow we verified this
The exact English wording is documented in Lorenzo O’Rourke’s 1907 translation. Both that translation and the 1901 French publication predate 1931 and are public domain in the United States.
Rights status is our research, not legal advice — and copyright varies by country and edition. For commercial or published use, confirm with the rightsholder. See terms.
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Transcribes the exact English sentence and identifies the 1907 O’Rourke translation and 1901 French source.
Background collection of Hugo’s sourced quotations.
Life dates and literary career.
Separate primary work demonstrating Hugo’s discussion of art; not the source of this sentence.
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The author
For writers & researchers
Hugo, Victor. Victor Hugo’s Intellectual Autobiography. Translated by Lorenzo O’Rourke. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1907, 359–360. Text and edition identified by Quote Investigator.
Quotle.info. “Who really said ‘In a woman the flesh must be like marble; in a statue the marble must be like flesh’?” Last verified 9 Nov 2026. https://quotle.info/who-said/in-a-woman-the-flesh-must-be-like-marble-in-a-statue-the/