Flaubert quote--meaning?

["Johnson, Barbara" <bhjohnso@ALBRIGHTMAIL.ALIEF.ISD.TENET.EDU>]

Dear All:
I have a teacher who is using the Cormier novel, _Tunes for Bears To Dance
To_. We are looking for information or a brief analysis about the quote
contained in the front of the book that is credited to Gustave Flaubert. Can
anyone impart some wisdom (or take a wild guess) as to its meaning or why it
was chosen by Cormier?

Here is the quote:
"Human language is like a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for
bears to dance to, when all the time we are longing to move the stars to
pity."  --Gustave Flaubert

Thanks for your help in advance!
Barb
Barbara Johnson, Librarian
Albright Middle School
Houston, Texas 77083
bhjohnso@albrightmail.alief.isd.tenet.edu
<mailto:Bhjohnso@albrightmail.alief.isd.tenet.edu>

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