All music, even if its occasion be a gay one, renders us pensive. Madame de Stael More Quotes by Madame de Stael More Quotes From Madame de Stael The egotism of woman is always for two. Madame de Stael egotism two The education of life perfects the thinking mind, but depraves the frivolous. Madame de Stael mind education thinking Where no interest is takes in science, literature and liberal pursuits, mere facts and insignificant criticisms necessarily become the themes of discourse; and minds, strangers alike to activity and meditation, become so limited as to render all intercourse with them at once tasteless and oppressive. Madame de Stael criticism meditation mind If it were not for respect for human opinions, I would not open my window to see the Bay of Naples for the first time, whilst I would go five hundred leagues to talk with a man of genius whom I had not seen. Madame de Stael genius league men Let us then blend everything: love, religion, genius, with sunshine, perfume, music, and poetry. Madame de Stael perfume sunshine genius Danger is like wine, it goes to your head. Madame de Stael wine danger Conscience is doubtless sufficient to conduct the coldest character into the road of virtue; but enthusiasm is to conscience what honor is to duty; there is in us a superfluity of soul, which it is sweet to consecrate to the beautiful when the good has been accomplished. Madame de Stael beautiful sweet character It is difficult to grow old gracefully. Madame de Stael difficult grows age Gaiety pleases more when we are assured that it does not cover carelessness. Madame de Stael assured please doe The sight of such a monument is like continual and stationary music, which one hears for one's good as one approaches it. Madame de Stael approach architecture sight The only equitable manner in my opinion, of judging the character of a man is to examine if there are personal calculations in his conduct; if there are not, we may blame his manner of judging, but we are not the less bound to esteem him. Madame de Stael judging character men Strangers are contemporary posterity. Madame de Stael posterity contemporary stranger Mystery such as is given of God is beyond the power of human penetration, yet not in opposition to it. Madame de Stael penetration mystery given Tombs decked by the arts can scarcely represent death as a formidable enemy; we do not, indeed, like the ancients, carve sports and dances in the sarcophagus, but thought is diverted from the bier by works that tell of immortality, even from the altar of death. Madame de Stael sports enemy art When women oppose themselves to the projects and ambition of men, they excite their lively resentment; if in their youth they meddle with political intrigues, their modesty must suffer. Madame de Stael political ambition men Glory can be for a woman but the brilliant morning of happiness. Madame de Stael brilliant glory morning Genius inspires this thirst for fame: there is no blessing undesired by those to whom Heaven gave the means of winning it. Madame de Stael blessing winning mean No nation has the right to bring about a revolution, even though such a change may be most urgently needed, if the price is the blood of one single innocent individual. Madame de Stael may war blood women have no existence except in love; the history of their life begins and ends with love! Madame de Stael existence women ends ... in the history of the human mind there has never been a useful thought or a profound truth that has not found its century and admirers. Madame de Stael admirer mind profound