Une vraie mère n’est pas libre. - Honoré de Balzac

Pierrette, like all those who suffer more than they have strength to bear, kept silence.Silence is the only weapon by which such victims can conquer; it baffles the Cossack charges of envy, the savage skirmishings of suspicion; it does at times give victory, crushing and complete, — for what is more complete than silence? it is absolute; it is one of the attributes of infinity.

Like many widows, she came to the unwise decision of remarrying.

A man who prides himself on going in a straight line through life is an idiot who believes in infallibility.