Honoré De Balzac, Père Goriot Quotes

Some day you will find out that there is far more happiness in another's happiness than in your own.

Ah! What pleasure it must be to a woman to suffer for the one she loves!

Though the human heart may have to pause for rest when climbing the heights of affection it rarely stops on the slippery slope of hatred.

A letter is a soul, so faithful an echo of the speaking voice that to the sensitive it is among the richest treasures of love.

Who is to decide which is the grimmer sight: withered hearts, or empty skulls?

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.

The human heart may find here and there a resting-place short of the highest height of affection, but we seldom stop in the steep, downward slope of hatred.

If the human heart sometimes finds moments of pause as it ascends the slopes of affection, it rarely halts on the way down.

Women are always true, even in the midst of their greatest falsities, because they are always influenced by some natural feeling.

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.

Is there any instinct more deeply implanted in the heart of man than the pride of protection, a protection which is constantly exerted for a fragile and defenceless creature?

If youth were not ignorant and timid, civilization would be impossible.

We flew back home like swallows. 'Is it happiness that makes us so light?' Agathe asked.

Of necessity she went further in aversion than she had gone in love, for her hatred was not in proportion to her love but to her disappointed hopes.