Balzaconcesaidartisticcreationwas“anexhaustingstrug-gle”.Hebelievedthatonlybytenaciousworkandfearingnotafraidofdifficultiescouldyoushowyourtalent.Itwasjustlikethesoldierschargingthefortress,notrelaxingyoureffortforevenamoment.
OnceBalzacwroteforhoursonend,hewassotiredthathecouldnotholdoutanylonger.Herantoafriend'shomeandplungedheadlongonthesofa.Hewantedtosleep,buthetoldhisfriendhemustbewokenupwithinanhour.Hisfriend,seeinghimsotired,didnotwakehimupontime.Afterhewokeup,Balzacgotveryangryathisfriend.Fortunatelyhisfriendhadanintimateunderstandingofhimanddidnotquarrelwithhim.
Balzacdidnotsmokecigarettes,nordidhedrinkanyalco-hol.Buthegotonehabit:whilehewaswritinghealwaysdrankverystrongcoffeethatcouldalmostanaesthetizehisstomach.Hedidn'taddmilk,nordidheaddsugarinhiscoffee.Itwouldnotsatisfyhimuntilitwasmadebitter.Peoplegenerallydidnotliketodrinksuchbittercoffee.Thathadstrangestimuluseffecttohim,andcouldhelphimdrivethesleepinessaway,accordingtohimself.