No woman has ever existed who did not know perfectly well in her heart what to expect from the superiority or inferiority of a rival.
Honore de BalzacWhat moralist can deny that well-bred and vicious people are much more agreeable than their virtuous counterparts? Having crimes to atone for, they provisionally solicit indulgence by showing leniency toward the defects of their judges. Thus they pass for excellent folk.
Honore de BalzacIntuition, like the rays of the sun, acts only in an inflexibly straight line; it can guess right only on condition of never diverting its gaze; the freaks of chance disturb it.
Honore de BalzacMarriage must fight constantly against a monster which devours everything: routine.
Honore de Balzac