What moralists describe as the mysteries of the human heart are solely the deceiving thoughts, the spontaneous impulses of self-regard. The sudden changes in character, about which so much has been said, are instinctive calculations for the furtherance of our own pleasures. Seeing himself now in his fine clothes, his new gloves and shoes, Eugรจne de Rastignac forgot his noble resolve. Youth, when it swerves toward wrong, dares not look in the mirror of conscience; maturity has already seen itself there. That is the whole difference between the two phases of life.
Honore de BalzacIn intimate family life, there comes a moment when children, willingly or no, become the judges of their parents.
Honore de BalzacPassion is universal humanity. Without it religion, history, romance and art would be useless.
Honore de BalzacIn Paris every man must have had a love affair. What woman wants something that no other woman ever wanted.
Honore de Balzac