836 Quotes by Honoré de Balzac

Lofty souls are always inclined to make a virtue of misfortune.

La femme marie e est un esclave qu'il faut savoir mettre sur un tro" n e. A married woman is a slave whom one must put on a throne.

Old maids claw as cats do. They not only inflict wounds but experience pleasure in doing so. Nor will they fail to remind their victims of the blood drawn.

Many people claim coffee inspires them, but, as everybody knows, coffee only makes boring people even more boring.

Genius is answerable only to itself; it is the sole judge of the means, since it alone knows the end; thus genius must consider itself as above the law, for it is the task of genius to remake the law; moreover the man who frees himself from his time and place may take everything, hazard everything, for everything is his by right.

Wisdom is that apprehension of heavenly things to which the spirit rises through love.

We do not attach ourselves lastingly to anything that has not cost us care, labor or longing.

Time is the only capital of those who just have their inteligence as fortune.

Modern reformers offer nebulous theories or write philanthropic novels. But your thief acts! He is as clear as a fact and as logical as a punch on the nose! And what a style he has!