L'Art ne réclame ni complaisance ni politesse, rien que la foi, la foi toujours et la liberté.

This is from a letter of October 2, 1856 that Flaubert wrote to Léon Laurent-Pichat. The latter, a writer, politician and the chief editor of the journal "Revue de Paris", had accepted to publish Laubert's novel "Madame Bovary" as a serial. In his letter, Flaubert thanks Laurent-Pichat for sending him a copy of the issue with the opening part of "Madame Bovary". He also defends the realistic style that he employed in his description of Emma et Charles Bovary, writing "...ai-je pris la chose d'une manière héroïque, j'entends minutieuse, en acceptant tout, en disant tout, en peignant tout, expression ambitieuse" ("... I adopted a heroic method, which is the fastidious observation of things and accepting everything, saying everything, painting everything").

Although in the journal a censured version of "Madame Bovary" appeared, Flaubert, Laurent-Pichat, and Auguste-Alexis Pillet (another editor) had to face a trial in 1857; public prosecutors accused them of obscenity ("délits d'outrage à la morale publique et religieuse et aux bonnes mœurs"). The process and the acquittal contributed significantly to the novel becoming widely known and its commercial success.

Flaubert's faith and freedom: One eye sees while other one feels; and who knows what the hands are up to.

Oh God, more bloody Flaubert...tirez sur moi, je vous en prie !