Men are such dupes by choice, that he who would impose upon others never need be at a loss to find ready… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
As soon as man seeks to penetrate the secrets of Nature--in which nothing is secret and it is but a question of… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
The happier a man, the more apt he is to tremble. In hearts exclusively tender, anxiety and jealousy are in exact proportion… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
He has great tranquility of heart who cares neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of men. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
By dint of making sacrifices, a man grows interested in the person who exacts them. Great ladies, like courtesans, know this truth… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
God is the author, men are only the players. These grand pieces which are played upon earth have been composed in heaven. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another,… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Rare is the man who suffers no remorse as he passes from the state of confidant to that of rival. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Beaucoup d'hommes ont un orgueil qui les pousse a' cacher leurs combats et a' ne se montrer que victorieux. Many men have… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
A penniless man who has no ties to bind him is master of himself at any rate, but a luckless wretch who… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Do you know how a man makes his way here? By brilliant genius or by skilful corruption. You must either cut your… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Isn't it really quite extraordinary to see that, since man took his first step, no one has asked himself why he walks,… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Events are never absolute, their outcome depends entirely upon the individual. Misfortune is a stepping stone for a genius, a piscina for… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
For businessmen, the world is a bale of banknotes in circulation; for most young men, it is a woman; for some women,… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Constancy will always be the genius of love, the indication of that strength which constitutes the poet. A man should possess all… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Poets and men of action differ: the former yield to their feelings in order to reproduce them in lively colors, and therefore… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Any man, however blase or depraved, finds his love kindled anew when he sees himself threatened by a rival. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
The boor covers himself, the rich man or the fool adorns himself, and the elegant man gets dressed. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Conscience is a cudgel which all men pick up in order to thwack their neighbors instead of applying it to their own… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
We have long struggles with ourself, of which the outcome is one of our actions; they are, as it were, the inner… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Can you find a man who loves the occupation that provides him with a livelihood? Professions are like marriages; we end by… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Women, when they have made a sheep of a man, always tell him that he is a lion with a will of… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
With a woman, always make good use of a secret. She will be proportionally grateful to you, like a scoundrel who grants… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
To say to a rich man: You are poor! is to tell the Archbishop of Granada that his sermons are worthless. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
When an intelligent man reaches the point of inviting self-explanation and offers surrendering the key to his heart, he is assuredly riding… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
No man has ever yet discovered the way to give friendly advice to any woman, not even to his own wife. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
To man, faith; to woman, doubt. She bears the heavier burden. Does not woman invariably suffer for two? — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
Fools gain greater advantages through their weakness than intelligent men through their strength. We watch a great man struggling against fate and… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
The habits of every animal are, at least in the eyes of man, constantly similar in all ages. But the habits, the… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
To live in the presence of great truths and eternal laws, to be led by permanent ideals - that is what keeps… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share Image
“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.” — Honoré de Balzac Copy Share
“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the… — Honoré de Balzac Copy Share
It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does. — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the… — Honore de Balzac Copy Share
