Stendhal Quotes

L'amour a toujours été pour moi la plus grande des affaires ou plutôt la seule.

Les Russes copient les moeurs françaises, mais toujours à cinquante ans de distance.

Literary men say, "In foreign countries, one can have ingenious thoughts, but one merely knows how to make a book in France." Yes, if the only goal of a book is to make an idea understood, not if it hopes to also make one feel, give some nuance of emotion.

Les signes ne peuvent pas figurer, dans un rapport d'espion, aussi avantageusement que des paroles.

Ce iubire mai e aceea care te face sa casti?

I forgot to illustrate this salon. Sir Walter Scott, and his imitators, would have started with that, but for me, I abhor material description. The trouble of making them prevents me from writing novels.

Je vois en toi quelque chose qui offense le vulgaire.

To write a book is to risk being shot at in public.

Il n’a pas une pensée qui ose s’écarter de la mode.

The pleasures of love are always in proportion to our fears.

It is because I was foolish then that I am now wise. O philosopher who see nothing save in a flash, how short is your vision! Your eye is not made to follow the underground working of the passions. FRAU VON GOETHE This

Le même esprit ne dure que deux cents ans.

Each man for himself in that desert of egoism which is called life.

(out of what miseries does love create its happiness!):

This mania of the mothers of the period, to be constantly in pursuit of a son-in-law.