The art of motherhood involves much silent, unobtrusive self-denial, an hourly devotion which finds no detail too minute.
Honore de BalzacI'm a great poet. I don't put my poems on paper: they consist of actions and feelings.
Honore de BalzacBut reason always cuts a poor figure beside sentiment; the one being essentially restricted, like everything that is positive, while the other is infinite.
Honore de BalzacNothing can afford a woman greater pleasure than to hear tender words of love. The strictest, most devout woman will listen even if she must not answer.
Honore de BalzacThe duration of passion is proportionate with the original resistance of the woman.
Honore de BalzacChildren, dear and loving children, can alone console a woman for the loss of her beauty.
Honore de BalzacThe weakest being on earth can accomplish feats of strength. The frailest urchin will ring every doorbell on the street in arctic weather or hoist himself aloft to inscribe his name on a virgin monument.
Honore de BalzacSuicide, moreover, was at the time in vogue in Paris: what more suitable key to the mystery of life for a skeptical society?
Honore de BalzacThey [twin beds] are the most stupid, the most perfidious, and the most dangerous invention in the world. Shame and a curse on who thought of them.
Honore de BalzacThe secret of great fortunes without apparent cause is a crime forgotten, forgotten because it was properly done.
Honore de BalzacVocations which we wanted to pursue, but didn't, bleed, like colors, on the whole of our existence.
Honore de BalzacYes, I can understand that a man might go to a gambling table when he sees that all that lies between him and death is his last crown.
Honore de BalzacHow did you get back?' asked Vautrin. 'I walked,' replied Eugene. 'I wouldn't like half-pleasures, myself,' observed the tempter. 'I'd want to go there in my own carriage, have my own box, and come back in comfort. All or nothing, that's my motto.' 'And a very good one,' said Madame Vauquer.
Honore de BalzacA woman questions the man who loves exactly as a judge questions a criminal. This being so, a flash of the eye, a mere word, an inflection of the voice or a moment's hesitation suffice to expose the fact, betrayal or crime he is attempting to conceal.
Honore de BalzacGlory and fame mean twelve thousand francs' worth of paid articles in the newspapers and five thousand crowns' worth of dinners.
Honore de BalzacJealousy, an eminently credulous and suspicious passion, allows fancy the greatest possible play. But it does not bestow wit, it banishes all sense.
Honore de BalzacWhen a woman starts talking about her duty, her regard for appearances, and her respect for religion, she raises so many bulwarks which she delights to see captured by storm.
Honore de BalzacWhen will conventional good manners become attractive? When will ladies of fashion exhibit their shoulders a little less and their affability and wit a little more?
Honore de BalzacNo man has ever yet discovered the way to give friendly advice to any woman, not even to his own wife.
Honore de BalzacLove is a religion, and its rituals cost more than those of other religions. It goes by quickly and, like a street urchin, it likes to mark its passage by a trail of devastation.
Honore de BalzacIn the first woman we love, we love everything. Growing older, we love the woman only.
Honore de BalzacMen are perfectly willing to abandon a woman but they refuse to be abandoned by her.
Honore de BalzacFrance is a country that loves to change their government if it is always the same.
Honore de BalzacIn Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction known to man is the smirk on the face of a male, highly pleased with himself as he leaves the boudoir of a lady.
Honore de BalzacCreole women take after Europe in their intelligence, after the Tropics in the illogical violence of their passions, and after the Indies in the apathetic indolence with which they commit or suffer good and evil.
Honore de BalzacSociety proceeds like the ocean. After a disaster, it resume its wonted level and rhythms; its devouring interests efface all traces of damage.
Honore de Balzac