Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach Quotes

A defeat borne with pride is also a victory.

Spoiled children … already get to know in early years the sufferings of the tyrant.

The vain and weak see a judge in everyone; the proud and strong know no judge other than themselves.

Those who trusted at the wrong time and place will in turn mistrust at the wrong time and place.

It is unfortunate that a good talent and a good man seldom come together.

Bis zu einem gewissen Grade selbstlos sollte man schon aus Selbstsucht sein.

Die Kleinen schaffen, der Große erschafft.

Wir sollen immer verzeihen, dem Reuigen um seinetwillen, dem Reuelosen um unseretwillen.

There are very few honest friends—the demand is not particularly great.

Dilettantes have not achieved anything lasting even in the applied arts. But they have rendered some service to the highest of all disciplines: philosophy. Montaigne, La Rochefoucauld, Vauvenargues are proof of this.

There are intellects that shine and there are those that sparkle. The former illuminate matters, the latter obscure them.

Unerreichbare Wünsche werden als »fromm« bezeichnet. Man scheint anzunehmen, dass nur die profanen in Erfüllung gehen.

Rational beings despise nothing so much as that magnanimity that they themselves feel incapable of.

Wenn du einen vielbetretenen Weg lange gehst, so gehst du ihn endlich allein.

People who read only the classics are sure to remain up-to-date.