The conversation of those who like to lord it over us is very disagreeable. But we should always be ready to graciously acknowledge the truth, no matter in what guise it comes to us. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable More Quotes by Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable More Quotes From Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Even the best-natured people, if uninstructed, are always blind and uncertain. We must take pains to instruct ourselves so that ignorance makes us neither too timid nor too bold. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable pain ignorance people There is no more reason to accuse ourselves excessively of our failings than to excuse them overmuch. He who goes overboard in self-criticism often does so in order not to suffer others' criticisms, or else does so out of a kind of vanity that wishes to make others believe that he knows how to confess his faults. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable vanity self believe The loftiness of understanding embraces all. It requires as much spirit to suffer the failings of others as it does to appreciate their good qualities. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable appreciate understanding appreciation It is such a great fault to talk too much that, in business and conversation, if what is good is also brief, it is doubly good, and one gains by brevity what one often loses by an excess of words. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable excess too-much business Good fortune almost always makes some change in a man's behavior - in his manner of speaking and acting. It is a great weakness to want to bedeck oneself in qualities which are not his own. If he esteemed virtue above all other things, neither the favors of fortune nor the advantages of position would change a man's face or heart. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable quality heart men Although we should not love our friends for the good that they do us, it is a sign that they do not love us much if they do not do us good when they have the power to do so. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable ifs should love We so love all new and unusual things that we even derive a secret pleasure from the saddest and most tragic events, both because of their novelty and because of the natural malignity that exists within us. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable unusual-things secret love When an opinionated person starts to challenge something, his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates him, however just it might be, and it seems that he is afraid of discovering the truth. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable truth challenges mind True merit does not depend on the times or on fashion. Those who have no other advantage than courtly manners lose it when they are away from court. But good sense, knowledge, and wisdom make their possessors knowledgeable and beloved in all ages and in all times. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable fashion wisdom age The maxims of Christian life, which should draw upon the truths of the Gospel, are always partially symbolic of the mind and temperament of those who teach them to us. The former, by their natural sweetness, show us the quality of God's mercy; the latter, by their harshness, show us God's justice. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable christian justice life It is base to take advantage of our rank or greatness by making fun of those placed beneath us in life. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable greatness fun life It is a strength of character to acknowledge our failings and our strong points, and it is a weakness of character not to remain in harmony with both the good and the bad that is within us. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable strength strong character We need not regard what good a friend has done us, but only his desire to do us good. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable good-friend desire friendship We would often rather seem dutiful to others than to succeed in our duties; and often we would rather tell our friends that we have done them good than to do good in actuality. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable succeed done friendship Pettiness of mind, ignorance and presumption are the cause of stubbornness, because stubborn people only want to believe what they themselves can imagine, and they can imagine very few things. Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable ignorance believe people
