20 Quotes by Marie Rabutin-Chantal De Sevigne

Never, surely, was anything more easily awakened as my affection for you; a thousand circumstances, a thousand thoughts, a thousand remembrances, occupy my heart; but always in the manner you could wish; my memory presents me with nothing but pleasing images of your amiable qualities; I hope yours does the same.

He flung out of the room in a violent passion. These over-niceties are troublesome; I have them not for him, but I have them too much for a certain beautiful love who is dearer to me than my life, and whom I embrace with all the affection of my heart.

The other day I made a maxim off-hand without once thinking of it; and I liked it so well that I fancied I had taken it out of M. de La Rochefoucauld’s; … Pray where did this come from? have I read it? or did I dream it? or is it my own idea? Nothing can be truer than the thing itself, nor than that I am totally ignorant how I came by it. I found it properly arranged in my brain, and at the end of my tongue.

Love me for my affection, love me even for my weakness; I am satisfied myself. I prefer my feelings to all the fine sentiments of Seneca or Epictetus.

If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?

We have again, my dear child, the most horrid weather you can imagine. It has been one continuous storm for these four days past. All our walks are under water; there is no such thing as stirring out. Our masons and carpenters keep close within doors: in short, I detest this country, and am every moment wishing for your sunshine, while you, perhaps, wish as much for my rain. We are both right.

For my part, I despise trivial occurrences; I am only for those which surprise and astonish.

As for Lamousse, he catechizes Sundays and holidays: he is resolved to go to heaven. I tell him it is only out of curiosity, to see whether the sun is a heap of dust, continually in motion, or a globe of fire.

I am in despair when I see people happy. This is not a very noble feeling : but how when our friends are unhappy can one support thunderstrokes of bliss in others?