[On Napoleon:] One has the impression of an imperious wind blowing about one's ears when one is near that man. Madame de Stael More Quotes by Madame de Stael More Quotes From Madame de Stael Prayer is the life of the soul. Madame de Stael soul prayer As we grow in wisdom, we pardon more freely. Madame de Stael pardon prison wisdom Scientific progress makes moral progress a necessity; for if man's power is increased, the checks that restrain him from abusing it must be strengthened. Madame de Stael progress moral men Beauty is one in the universe, and, whatever form it assumes, it always arouses a religious feeling in the hearts of mankind. Madame de Stael religious feelings heart [On Italian:] One may almost call it a language that talks of itself, and always seems more witty than its speakers. Madame de Stael italian may witty The world is the work of a single thought, expressed in a thousand different ways. Madame de Stael different way world Men err from selfishness; women because they are weak. Madame de Stael selfishness weak men Love, supreme power of the heart, mysterious enthusiasm that encloses in itself all poetry, all heroism, all religion! Madame de Stael heroism enthusiasm heart Thought can never be compared with action, but when it awakens in us the image of truth. Madame de Stael action Love is the emblem of eternity; it confounds all notion of time. Madame de Stael angel eternity love-is [On Russia:] In every way, there is something gigantic about this people: ordinary dimensions have no applications whatever to it. I do not mean by this that true greatness and stability are never met with; but their boldness, their imaginativeness knows no bounds. With them everything is colossal rather than well-proportioned, audacious rather than well-considered, and if they do not attain their goals, it is because they exceed them. Madame de Stael russia greatness mean When once enthusiasm has been turned into ridicule, everything is undone except money and power. Madame de Stael money-and-power undone enthusiasm Whatever is natural admits of variety. Madame de Stael variety natural Who understands much, forgives much. Madame de Stael forgiveness forgiving Sow good services: sweet remembrances will grow from them. Madame de Stael nature sweet happiness Morality must guide calculation, and calculation must guide politics. Madame de Stael ethics morality guides Search for the truth is the noblest occupation of man; its publication is a duty. Madame de Stael truth war peace Intellect does not attain its full force unless it attacks power. Madame de Stael force doe enemy The entire social order ... is arrayed against a woman who wants to rise to a man's reputation. Madame de Stael want men order Whatever efforts one may make, one must revert to the realization that religion is the real basis of morality; religion is the real and perceptible purpose within us, which alone, can turn aside our attention from things. ... The science of morality can no more teach human beings to be honest, in all the magnificence of this word, than geometry can teach one how to draw. Madame de Stael effort real attention
