Quotes from Honore de Balzac

I am fully persuaded that, out of his business, he is the most loyal and upright soul in Paris. There are two men in him; he is petty and great — a miser and a philosopher. If I were to die and leave a family behind me, he would be the guardian whom I should appoint. This was how I came to see Gobseck in this light, monsieur. I know nothing of his past life.

she seemed to me all but crazy with admiration for that Monsieur Hugo. I'm sure I don't know where such people" (Victor Hugo, Lamartine, Byron being such people to the Madame Latournelles of the bourgeoisie) "get their ideas. Modeste kept talking to me of Childe Harold, and as I did not wish to get the worst of the argument I was silly enough to try to read the thing.

Estos dos jóvenes juzgaban a la sociedad desde tanta más altura cuanto más abajo se encontraban situados en la escala social, ya que los hombres desconocidos se vengan de lo modesto de su posición con su elevación de miras.

for no greatness is so great that it can rise above the laws of human affection, or live beyond the jurisdiction of pain, as certain demagogues would have the people believe

Llega un momento, en la vida interior de las familias, que los hijos, voluntaria o involuntariamente, se convierten en jueces de sus padres

The day when, as a young girl, in all the radiance of her beauty and all the triumph of her life, she suffered, at the cost of her heart and her sweet illusions, the disenchantment which falls on us so slowly and yet so quickly — for we try to postpone as long as possible our belief in evil, and it seems to come too soon — that day was a whole age of reflection, and it was also a day of religious thought and resignation.

Nothing more clearly proves the necessity for indissoluble marriage than the instability of passion.

En esta amistad, ya vieja, uno de los dos amaba con idolatría, y era David. Por ello Lucien mandaba como mujer que se sabe amada. David obedecía de buen grado.

misery made me unjust to you.

Time has become the costliest commodity, so no one can afford the lavish extravagance of going home to-morrow morning and getting up late. Hence, there is no second soiree now but at the houses of women rich enough to entertain, and since July 1830 such women may be counted in Paris.

Je ne sais pas ce que je ferai au premier fanatique qui a inventé Dieu.

En las alturas, la Nobleza y el Poder; abajo, el Comercio y el Dinero; dos esferas sociales que en todas partes son perpetuamente enemigas; por ello es difícil adivinar cuál de las dos ciudades odiaba más a su rival.

para la gente vulgar la genialidad se parece a la locura.

Some human beings obtain through love the power of transferring their self — their I — to the being of another; and when death takes that other, no life of their own is possible for them.

The handsomest wondered at her easy surrender. The men could not understand such luck as the Baron's, not regarding him as particularly fascinating. A few indulgent women said it was not fair to judge the Countess too hastily; young wives would be in a very hapless plight if an expressive look or a few graceful dancing steps were enough to compromise a woman.

Cette première pièce exhale une odeur sans nom dans la langue, et qu'il faudrait appeler l'odeur de pension. Elle sent le renfermé, le moisi, le rance; elle donne froid, elle est humide au nez, elle pénètre les vêtements; elle a le goût d'une salle où l'on a dîné; elle pue le service, l'office, l'hospice. Peut-être

La falta de vida social es uno de los inconvenientes de la vida rural. Cuando no se está obligado a hacer por el prójimo esos pequeños sacrificios exigidos por la urbanidad y el arreglo personal, se acaba por adquirir la costumbre de no preocuparse por los demás.

We must all agree that legality would be a fine thing for social scoundrelism IF THERE WERE NO GOD.

El mundo se contenta con muecas, se satisface con lo que da, sin comprobar su calidad; para él, el verdadero dolor es un espectáculo, una especie de goce que le inclina a absolverlo todo, incluso a un criminal; en su avidez de emociones, indulta sin discernimiento lo mismo al que le hace reír que al que le hace llorar, sin pedirle cuenta de los medios.

And what is power without recognition? Nothing.

The passion of love is essentially selfish, while motherhood widens the circle of our feelings. How well I felt this difference when I read your kind, tender letter! To see you thus living in three hearts roused my envy. Yes, you are happy; you have had wisdom to obey the laws of social life, whilst I stand outside, an alien.

L'étude prête une sorte de magie à tout ce qui nous environne.

But God must be a good fellow; He cannot owe me any grudge. I swear to you, I would give my whole fortune if faith such as Bourgeat's could enter my brain.

they said, as the soldiers and the dressers said, the perfunctory words, "Have patience! a little courage! What's the good of grieving? Suppose you kill yourself, what then? One gets accustomed to everything; be reasonable!