--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In Paris, the greatest expression of…" description: "\"In Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction known to man is the smirk on the face of a male, highly pleased with himself as he leaves th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png" --- # In Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction… ![“In Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction known to man is the smirk on the face of a male, highly pleased with himself as he leaves the boudoir of a lady.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png) > “In Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction known to man is the smirk on the face of a male, highly pleased with himself as he leaves the boudoir of a lady.” [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. A man's pride is displayed through a smug grin after a romantic conquest, highlighting ego and fleeting triumph. **In simple terms:** Male ego shows in a smug grin after a conquest. Key Takeaway Beware letting ego dictate satisfaction. Themes pride romance ego Mood wry ironic Type literary satirical When to use this quote - dating - flirtation - post‑breakup - celebrations Key Concepts masculinity social status Questions to Reflect On - What does a smirk reveal about you? - When does confidence become arrogance? A Different Perspective Such smugness can mask deeper insecurity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boudoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boudoir/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Known To Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known-to-man/) [Males](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/males/) [Man Smirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-smirk-5583904/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Paris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paris/) [Personal satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-satisfaction/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) [Satisfaction Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction-known-4196880/) [Smirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smirk/) [Smirk Face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smirk-face-2843700/) ## Related quotes > [“I would be remiss not to give equal credit to Burke’s man here,” Farouk amended, earning a smug smirk from Ash’s companion. “He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-medeiros/i-would-be-remiss-not-to-give-equal-credit-to-burke-s-man-here-farouk/) [Teresa Medeiros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-medeiros/) > [Every time I mention the vagina doctor, you get this little smirk on your face. What have you been up to?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/every-time-i-mention-the-vagina-doctor-you-get-this-little-smirk-on/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [“Edward said without losing his condescending smile. As a testament to her inner strength, Ana found the mental control over her emotions to practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-savage/edward-said-without-losing-his-condescending-smile-as-a-testament-to/) [Vivienne Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-savage/) > [“Don’t make me punch you again, because I swear to God, I will.” That elicited a smirk. His face still had a slight shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-m-cameron/don-t-make-me-punch-you-again-because-i-swear-to-god-i-will-that/) [Chelsea M. Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-m-cameron/) > [Directing 'Two Plays in Rep' has brought me the greatest professional satisfaction I have ever known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mathias/directing-two-plays-in-rep-has-brought-me-the-greatest-professional/) [Sean Mathias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mathias/) > [“One more question." Finn had a smirk on his face. "Do you use…" "If you say litter box, I will empty that pitcher of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-battista/one-more-question-finn-had-a-smirk-on-his-face-do-you-use-if-you-say/) [Jeanette Battista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-battista/) > [It was a woman's bedroom, actually a boudoir, and no man belonged in it except by invitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-winsor/it-was-a-woman-s-bedroom-actually-a-boudoir-and-no-man-belonged-in-it/) [Kathleen Winsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-winsor/) > [It is extremely difficult to say how long the process actually took to finally achieve my fragrance, Boudoir, because there was a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-say-how-long-the-process-actually-took/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [The logic: Reading is a private pursuit, one that often takes place behind closed doors. A young lady might retreat with a book, might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/the-logic-reading-is-a-private-pursuit-one-that-often-takes-place/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Oh yes, I dated Orson Welles. We had many encounters on both coasts. I remember the first time he saw me in a boudoir,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maila-nurmi/oh-yes-i-dated-orson-welles-we-had-many-encounters-on-both-coasts-i/) [Maila Nurmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maila-nurmi/) > [Woman is shut up in a kitchen or in a boudoir, and astonishment is expressed that her horizon is limited. Her wings are clipped,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/woman-is-shut-up-in-a-kitchen-or-in-a-boudoir-and-astonishment-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [“...my mother took a younger man as a lover. They spent all day in her boudoir, festering in each other's company.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tash-aw/my-mother-took-a-younger-man-as-a-lover-they-spent-all-day-in-her/) [Tash Aw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tash-aw/) > [I once went to the Mayfair club Annabel's and the best thing about it was the Ladies. Perfumed air, exotic wallpaper, full-length mirrors -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-reid/i-once-went-to-the-mayfair-club-annabel-s-and-the-best-thing-about-it/) [Susanna Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-reid/) > [Didn't love, like a plant from India, require a prepared soil, a particular temperature? Sighs in the moonlight, long embraces, tears flowing over hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/didn-t-love-like-a-plant-from-india-require-a-prepared-soil-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [ Everything I say about \[writing\] battles applies equally well in the boudoir. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-humphreys/everything-i-say-about-writing-battles-applies-equally-well-in-the/) [Chris Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-humphreys/) ## 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 Boudoir quotes > [ Everything I say about \[writing\] battles applies equally well in the boudoir. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-humphreys/everything-i-say-about-writing-battles-applies-equally-well-in-the/) [Chris Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-humphreys/) > [Didn't love, like a plant from India, require a prepared soil, a particular temperature? Sighs in the moonlight, long embraces, tears flowing over hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/didn-t-love-like-a-plant-from-india-require-a-prepared-soil-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [I once went to the Mayfair club Annabel's and the best thing about it was the Ladies. Perfumed air, exotic wallpaper, full-length mirrors -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-reid/i-once-went-to-the-mayfair-club-annabel-s-and-the-best-thing-about-it/) [Susanna Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-reid/) > [“...my mother took a younger man as a lover. They spent all day in her boudoir, festering in each other's company.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tash-aw/my-mother-took-a-younger-man-as-a-lover-they-spent-all-day-in-her/) [Tash Aw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tash-aw/) > [Woman is shut up in a kitchen or in a boudoir, and astonishment is expressed that her horizon is limited. Her wings are clipped,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/woman-is-shut-up-in-a-kitchen-or-in-a-boudoir-and-astonishment-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Oh yes, I dated Orson Welles. We had many encounters on both coasts. I remember the first time he saw me in a boudoir,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maila-nurmi/oh-yes-i-dated-orson-welles-we-had-many-encounters-on-both-coasts-i/) [Maila Nurmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maila-nurmi/) > [The logic: Reading is a private pursuit, one that often takes place behind closed doors. A young lady might retreat with a book, might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/the-logic-reading-is-a-private-pursuit-one-that-often-takes-place/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [It is extremely difficult to say how long the process actually took to finally achieve my fragrance, Boudoir, because there was a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/it-is-extremely-difficult-to-say-how-long-the-process-actually-took/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [It was a woman's bedroom, actually a boudoir, and no man belonged in it except by invitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-winsor/it-was-a-woman-s-bedroom-actually-a-boudoir-and-no-man-belonged-in-it/) [Kathleen Winsor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-winsor/) > [As she sallied forth from her boudoir, you would never have guessed how quickly she could strip for action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-manchester/as-she-sallied-forth-from-her-boudoir-you-would-never-have-guessed/) [William Manchester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-manchester/) > [“So it's happened. I close my eyes again, and blank out the boudoir. Instead the image of himm standing next to me inthe garden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-matthews/so-it-s-happened-i-close-my-eyes-again-and-blank-out-the-boudoir/) [Sadie Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-matthews/) > [“She pushed open the door to the restaurant. More lunchtime bustle, mostly women in hats with their coats thrown over the backs of chairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mcdermott/she-pushed-open-the-door-to-the-restaurant-more-lunchtime-bustle/) [Alice McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mcdermott/) > [A girl never can predict who might wander into her boudoir during a bubble bath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burnham-schwartz/a-girl-never-can-predict-who-might-wander-into-her-boudoir-during-a/) [John Burnham Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burnham-schwartz/) > [Covering a historic event is perfectly legitimate. It's not sneaking into somebody's boudoir... These people belong to history, and not to record that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/covering-a-historic-event-is-perfectly-legitimate-it-s-not-sneaking/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [Working-girls, in pairs and groups and swarms, loitered by these windows, choosing their future boudoirs from some resplendent display which included even a man's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/working-girls-in-pairs-and-groups-and-swarms-loitered-by-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) [Browse all 17 Boudoir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boudoir/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction known to man is the smirk on the face of a male, highly pleased with himself as he leaves the boudoir of a lady.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-personal-satisfaction-known-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boudoir" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-personal-satisfaction-known-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e66/honor-de-balzac-197_boudoir_in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-pers_1514724.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In Paris, the greatest expression of personal satisfaction known to man is the smirk on the face of a male…” — 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": "In Paris, the greatest expression of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-personal-satisfaction-known-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/in-paris-the-greatest-expression-of-personal-satisfaction-known-to/#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 } } ] } ```