Life teaches much, but to all thinking persons it brings ever closer the will of God - not because their faculties decline, but on the contrary, because they increase. Madame de Stael More Quotes by Madame de Stael More Quotes From Madame de Stael Unhappy love freezes all our affections: our own souls grow inexplicable to us. More than we gained while we were happy we lose by the reverse. Madame de Stael heartbreak unhappy soul To be totally understanding makes one very indulgent. Madame de Stael understanding teaching The study of history, it seems to me, leads to the conviction that all important events tend toward the same end - the civilization of mankind. Madame de Stael important-events civilization history Providence protects us in all the details of our lot. Madame de Stael details providence protect I must keep on rowing, not until I reach port but until I reach my grave. Madame de Stael port rowing graves The more we know the better we forgive. Whoever feels deeply, feels for all who live. Madame de Stael forgiveness forgiving inspirational All music, even if its occasion be a gay one, renders us pensive. Madame de Stael pensive gay music Taste is to literature what bon ton is in society. Madame de Stael taste literature A Gothic building engenders true religion ... The light, falling through colored glass, the singular forms of the architecture, unite to give a silent image of that infinite mystery which the soul for ever feels, and never comprehends. Madame de Stael glasses light fall a perfect piece of architecture kindles that aimless reverie, which bears the soul we know not whither. Madame de Stael pieces soul perfect Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end. Madame de Stael valentines-day anniversary love Man's most valuable faculty is his imagination. Madame de Stael faculty imagination men What matters in a character is not whether one holds this or that opinion: what matters is how proudly one upholds it. Madame de Stael what-matters matter character The pursuit of politics is religion, morality, and poetry all in one. Madame de Stael pursuit morality politics We understand death only after it has placed its hands on someone we love. Madame de Stael condolences sympathy hands The face of a woman, whatever be the force or extent of her mind, whatever be the importance of the object she pursues, is always an obstacle or a reason in the story of her life. Madame de Stael stories mind faces To pray together, in whatever tongue or ritual, is the most tender brotherhood of hope and sympathy that man can contract in this life. Madame de Stael brotherhood together men I believe that happiness consists in having a destiny in keeping with our abilities. Our desires are things of the moment, often harmful even to ourselves; but our abilities are permanent, and their demands never cease. Madame de Stael destiny happiness believe The soul is a fire that darts its rays through all the senses; it is in this fire that existence consists; all the observations and all the efforts of philosophers ought to turn towards this ME, the centre and moving power of our sentiments and our ideas. Madame de Stael fire ideas moving Courage of soul is necessary for the triumphs of genius. Madame de Stael triumph soul courage