By resorting to self-resignation, the unfortunate consummate. Honore de Balzac More Quotes by Honore de Balzac More Quotes From Honore de Balzac You're a fine fastidious young man, as proud as a lion, as gentle as a girl. You'd make a good catch for the devil. Honore de Balzac devil girl men What moralists describe as the mysteries of the human heart are solely the deceiving thoughts, the spontaneous impulses of self-regard. The sudden changes in character, about which so much has been said, are instinctive calculations for the furtherance of our own pleasures. Seeing himself now in his fine clothes, his new gloves and shoes, Eugène de Rastignac forgot his noble resolve. Youth, when it swerves toward wrong, dares not look in the mirror of conscience; maturity has already seen itself there. That is the whole difference between the two phases of life. Honore de Balzac maturity heart character We flew back home like swallows. 'Is it happiness that makes us so light?' Agathe asked. Honore de Balzac back-home light home He hesitated till the last moment, but finally dropped them in the box, saying, "I shall win!"--the cry of a gambler, the cry of the great general, the compulsive cry that has ruined more men than it has ever saved. Honore de Balzac lasts winning men It is always assumed by the empty-headed, who chatter about themselves for want of something better, that people who do not discuss their affairs openly must have something to hide. Honore de Balzac affair want people Who is to decide which is the grimmer sight: withered hearts, or empty skulls? Honore de Balzac skulls sight heart I prefer thought to action, an idea to a transaction, contemplation to activity. Honore de Balzac contemplation action ideas If the human heart sometimes finds moments of pause as it ascends the slopes of affection, it rarely halts on the way down. Honore de Balzac affection heart way I'm a great poet. I don't put my poems on paper: they consist of actions and feelings. Honore de Balzac paper action feelings Loyalty in time of need is possibly one of the noblest of victories a courtier can win over himself. Honore de Balzac victory loyalty winning Many men nourish a pride which urges them to conceal their struggles and show themselves only as conquerors. Honore de Balzac pride struggle men The privilege of feeling at home everywhere belongs only to kings, wolves and robbers. Honore de Balzac kings home feelings There are moments in life when all we can bear is the sense that our friend is near us; our wounds would wince at the touch of consoling words, that would reveal the depths of our pain. Honore de Balzac pain depth sympathy But also remember: if you have any genuine feelings, hide them like treasure; never let anyone so much as suspect them, or you're lost. Instead of being the executioner, you'll be the victim. And if you ever fall in love, keep that absolutely secret! Never breathe a word until you're completely sure of the person to whom you open your heart. And to protect that love, even before you feel it, learn to despise the world. Honore de Balzac falling-in-love feelings heart A beautiful book is a victory won in all the battlefields of human thought. Honore de Balzac victory beautiful book The man as he converses is the lover; silent, he is the husband. Honore de Balzac husband lovers men Perhaps it is only human nature to inflict suffering on anything that will endure suffering, whether by reason of its genuine humility, or indifference, or sheer helplessness. Honore de Balzac anti-bullying humility suffering What a thing of fantasy a woman may become after dusk. Honore de Balzac dusk fantasy may True love rules especially through memory. Honore de Balzac memories Time is the only capital of those who just have their inteligence as fortune. Honore de Balzac fortune