--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Death is as unexpected in his caprice as…" description: "\"Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but death is truer – Death has never forsaken any man\" — Honore de Balzac" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png" --- # Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in… ![“Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but death is truer – Death has never forsaken any man” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png) > “Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but death is truer – Death has never forsaken any man” [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death is unpredictable like a fickle lover, yet it is inevitable and never abandons anyone. **In simple terms:** Death is sudden but inevitable. Key Takeaway Accept life's uncertainty. Themes mortality inevitability philosophy Mood somber thoughtful Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - life planning - grief coping - philosophical reflection Key Concepts existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging death affect your choices? - What does “truer” imply about death’s role? A Different Perspective Focusing on death can cause anxiety; balance with living fully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caprice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caprice/) [Courtesan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesan/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Disdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disdain/) [Forsaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forsaken/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [Public opinion is a courtesan, whom we seek to please without respecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-antoine-petit-senn/public-opinion-is-a-courtesan-whom-we-seek-to-please-without/) [Jean Antoine Petit-Senn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-antoine-petit-senn/) > [If I had to fall from Cassiel's grace, at least I know it took a courtesan worthy of Kings to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/if-i-had-to-fall-from-cassiel-s-grace-at-least-i-know-it-took-a/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [You have a curious way of arousing one's imagination, stimulating all one's nerves, and making one's pulses beat faster. You put an aureole on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/you-have-a-curious-way-of-arousing-one-s-imagination-stimulating-all/) [Leopold von Sacher-Masoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-von-sacher-masoch/) > [Glory is sometimes a low courtesan who on the road entices many who did not think of her. They are astonished to obtain favors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-14th-prince-of-ligne/glory-is-sometimes-a-low-courtesan-who-on-the-road-entices-many-who/) [Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-14th-prince-of-ligne/) > [I'll live as a courtesan, not as a woman. I'll embrace any man that comes my way. It's not hard giving your body and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hwang-jini/i-ll-live-as-a-courtesan-not-as-a-woman-i-ll-embrace-any-man-that/) Hwang Jini > [She had the underwear of a thirteen-year-old, as well, he thought. He glanced back at her. But the shoes of a courtesan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/she-had-the-underwear-of-a-thirteen-year-old-as-well-he-thought-he/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) > [How is it that one woman is…enough…for three men?” “I don’t know.” “She must be a very talented courtesan.” “Callie.” “Well, that was what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/how-is-it-that-one-woman-is-enough-for-three-men-i-don-t-know-she/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [Mother went out again tonight, looking like a courtesan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kennedy-toole/mother-went-out-again-tonight-looking-like-a-courtesan/) [John Kennedy Toole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kennedy-toole/) > [It is something, I thought, when a king can put a courtesan to the blush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/it-is-something-i-thought-when-a-king-can-put-a-courtesan-to-the-blush/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [“Finding out that you are not your lover’s only lover hurts, but not as much as discovering that you are the side chick ……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/finding-out-that-you-are-not-your-lover-s-only-lover-hurts-but-not-as/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [My mother was killed in a plane crash, so I hate travelling in planes. Death is so unexpected. I would actually rather stay at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mccartney/my-mother-was-killed-in-a-plane-crash-so-i-hate-travelling-in-planes/) [Linda McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mccartney/) > [By dint of making sacrifices, a man grows interested in the person who exacts them. Great ladies, like courtesans, know this truth by instinct.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/by-dint-of-making-sacrifices-a-man-grows-interested-in-the-person-who/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“The word for her in Paris, a courtesan who had made it to the stage, was grue—it happened so often there was a word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-chee/the-word-for-her-in-paris-a-courtesan-who-had-made-it-to-the-stage/) [Alexander Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-chee/) > [“I watched her, a tall girl with long hair so black that under the stage lighting it coruscated like moonlit liquid. It cascaded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-eisler/i-watched-her-a-tall-girl-with-long-hair-so-black-that-under-the/) [Barry Eisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-eisler/) > [“The dresses are indecent," she said stiffly, the rich silk flowing against her body like water. "But pretty." She shot him another fulminating glance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-campbell/the-dresses-are-indecent-she-said-stiffly-the-rich-silk-flowing/) [Anna Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-campbell/) ## More by Honore de Balzac > [“Oh, my friend, when you love, love a woman whom you are sure that you can love always. Never forsake a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/oh-my-friend-when-you-love-love-a-woman-whom-you-are-sure-that-you/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [“You have broken the ice, though you have not even scratched its glossy surface: you have placed your hand upon the croup of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/you-have-broken-the-ice-though-you-have-not-even-scratched-its-glossy/) [Honoré de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [In a world of hunchbacks, a fine figure becomes a monstrosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-a-world-of-hunchbacks-a-fine-figure-becomes-a-monstrosity/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [It is quite right what they say: the three most beautiful sights in the world are a ship in full sail, a galloping horse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/it-is-quite-right-what-they-say-the-three-most-beautiful-sights-in/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [My writing table has seen all my wretchedness, knows all my plans, has overheard all my thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/my-writing-table-has-seen-all-my-wretchedness-knows-all-my-plans-has/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Foppery, being the chronic condition of women, is not so much noticed as it is when it breaks out on the person of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/foppery-being-the-chronic-condition-of-women-is-not-so-much-noticed/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/rich-men-are-resolved-to-be-astonished-at-nothing-when-they-see-a/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am a galley slave to pen and ink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/i-am-a-galley-slave-to-pen-and-ink/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [One can imagine the look the two lovers exchanged; it was like a flame, for virtuous lovers have not a shred of hypocrisy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/one-can-imagine-the-look-the-two-lovers-exchanged-it-was-like-a-flame/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [White and shining virgin of all human virtues, ark of the covenant between earth and heaven, tender and strong companion partaking of the lion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/white-and-shining-virgin-of-all-human-virtues-ark-of-the-covenant/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All men can bear a familiar, definite misfortune better than the cruel alternations of a fate which, from one moment to another, brings excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-men-can-bear-a-familiar-definite-misfortune-better-than-the-cruel/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The mind, too, has its regimen. It needs gymnastics, just like the body does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/the-mind-too-has-its-regimen-it-needs-gymnastics-just-like-the-body/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [Hatred like love feeds on the merest trifles. Everything adds to it. Just as the being we love can do no wrong, so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/hatred-like-love-feeds-on-the-merest-trifles-everything-adds-to-it/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [All human power is a compound of time and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/all-human-power-is-a-compound-of-time-and-patience/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) [Explore all 793 Honore de Balzac quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## More Caprice quotes > [In the indications of female poverty there can be no disguise. No woman dresses below herself from caprice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/in-the-indications-of-female-poverty-there-can-be-no-disguise-no/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/talent-and-intelligence-never-yet-inoculated-anyone-against-the/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Our fascination with weather: its caprices and changes as an antidote to the eternal repetition of daily life; a helpful illusion of novelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derren-brown/our-fascination-with-weather-its-caprices-and-changes-as-an-antidote/) [Derren Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derren-brown/) > [I see nothing quite conclusive in the art of temporal government, But violence, duplicity and frequent malversation. King rules or barons rule: The strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-smiles/i-see-nothing-quite-conclusive-in-the-art-of-temporal-government-but/) [Samuel Smiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-smiles/) > [A caprice is handled like a stew, and the pepper is added at the last minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachilde/a-caprice-is-handled-like-a-stew-and-the-pepper-is-added-at-the-last/) [Rachilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachilde/) > [When faced with demanding situations, can you keep your heart as light as a feather? Can you laugh your way through challenges and maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-faced-with-demanding-situations-can-you-keep-your-heart-as-light/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Travel is a caprice in childhood, a passion in youth, a necessity in manhood, and an elegy in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-rizal/travel-is-a-caprice-in-childhood-a-passion-in-youth-a-necessity-in/) [Jose Rizal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-rizal/) > [Broken lines do not know what they want. With their caprices they cut time up, abuse routes, slash the joyous flowers and split the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-crevel/broken-lines-do-not-know-what-they-want-with-their-caprices-they-cut/) [Rene Crevel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-crevel/) > [Dame Edna is that rarest sighting in our time of the absolute comic, an inspired personification of caprice whose comedy answered the primal call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lahr/dame-edna-is-that-rarest-sighting-in-our-time-of-the-absolute-comic/) [John Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lahr/) > [The great merit of gold is precisely that it is scarce; that its quantity is limited by nature; that it is costly to discover,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/the-great-merit-of-gold-is-precisely-that-it-is-scarce-that-its/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Caprice, independence and rebellion, which are opposed to the social order, are essential to the good health of an ethnic group. We shall measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/caprice-independence-and-rebellion-which-are-opposed-to-the-social/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) > [Caprice in women often infringes upon the rules of decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/caprice-in-women-often-infringes-upon-the-rules-of-decency/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [I love you boosie baltimore m.d caprice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-boosie/i-love-you-boosie-baltimore-m-d-caprice/) [Lil Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-boosie/) > [Caprice is half man. There is something manly about her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bacon/caprice-is-half-man-there-is-something-manly-about-her/) [Richard Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bacon/) > [For the writer, the serial killer is, abstractly, an analogue of the imagination's caprices and amorality; the sense that, no matter the dictates and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/for-the-writer-the-serial-killer-is-abstractly-an-analogue-of-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) [Browse all 110 Caprice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caprice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but death is truer – Death has never forsaken any man", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as-a-courtesan-in-her-disdain/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caprice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as-a-courtesan-in-her-disdain/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/honor-de-balzac-197_caprice_death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as_1335541.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Death is as unexpected in his caprice as a courtesan in her disdain; but death is truer – Death has never…” — Honore de Balzac", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Honore de Balzac", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Death is as unexpected in his...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as-a-courtesan-in-her-disdain/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/death-is-as-unexpected-in-his-caprice-as-a-courtesan-in-her-disdain/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```