In Julian Barnes' "Flaubert's Parrot," the author suggests that the anticipation of pleasure is often more satisfying than the experience itself. Flaubert encourages a perspective where the journey towards an experience holds greater value than the experience's conclusion, urging readers to appreciate the nuances of yearning and expectation.

This idea highlights the contrasts between fulfillment and anticipation, portraying the latter as a space filled with potential and excitement. Engaging in this anticipation allows one to avoid the disappointment that sometimes accompanies the reality of achieved desires, metaphorically referencing the emptiness found in fulfillment’s "desolate attic."