--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let passion reach a catastrophe and it…" description: "\"Let passion reach a catastrophe and it submits us to an intoxicating force far more powerful than the niggardly irritation of wine or of opium. The luc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/honor-de-balzac-197_achieve_let-passion-reach-a-catastrophe-and-it-s_1342838.png" --- # Let passion reach a catastrophe and it submits us to an… ![“Let passion reach a catastrophe and it submits us to an intoxicating force far more powerful than the niggardly irritation of wine or of opium. The lucidity our ideas then achieve, and the delicacy of our overly exalted sensations, produce the strangest and most unexpected effects.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/honor-de-balzac-197_achieve_let-passion-reach-a-catastrophe-and-it-s_1342838.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/honor-de-balzac-197_achieve_let-passion-reach-a-catastrophe-and-it-s_1342838.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/097/honor-de-balzac-197_achieve_let-passion-reach-a-catastrophe-and-it-s_1342838.png) > “Let passion reach a catastrophe and it submits us to an intoxicating force far more powerful than the niggardly irritation of wine or of opium. The lucidity our ideas then achieve, and the delicacy of our overly exalted sensations, produce the strangest and most unexpected effects.” [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. Intense passion can overwhelm rational thought, producing unexpected clarity and delicate sensations beyond ordinary pleasures. **In simple terms:** Passion can sharpen mind and heighten feeling. Key Takeaway Channel passion into creative insight. Themes passion clarity intoxication creativity Mood dramatic inspired Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - artistic creation - problem solving - spiritual practice - meditation Key Concepts philosophy of art psychology of emotion Questions to Reflect On - When has passion helped you see clearly? - How can you harness intense emotions productively? A Different Perspective Excessive passion may lead to loss of control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Catastrophe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) [Delicacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicacy/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Exalted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exalted/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Intoxicating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intoxicating/) [Intoxicating Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intoxicating-force-4541967/) [Irritation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irritation/) [Let Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-passion-1114979/) [Lucidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucidity/) [Opium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opium/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Sensations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensations/) [Sensations Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensations-produce-4541969/) [Submit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submit/) [Submits Intoxicating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/submits-intoxicating-4541968/) [Unexpected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unexpected/) [Wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wine/) ## Related quotes > [...never let a passion for the perfect take precedence over pragmatism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/never-let-a-passion-for-the-perfect-take-precedence-over-pragmatism/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [Oh, my passion! That is what finally carried me through. Let passion burn all the way, heating up every layer of the psyche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/oh-my-passion-that-is-what-finally-carried-me-through-let-passion/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“Oh God, let me not be cured of love, but let my passion grow! Let me love for love's sake!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-wolkstein/oh-god-let-me-not-be-cured-of-love-but-let-my-passion-grow-let-me/) [Diane Wolkstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-wolkstein/) > [The future is now. Roll up your sleeves and let your passion flow. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/the-future-is-now-roll-up-your-sleeves-and-let-your-passion-flow-the/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [It's real easy to be in the WWE and let your passion or your pain or the schedule put you in a bad place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hardy/it-s-real-easy-to-be-in-the-wwe-and-let-your-passion-or-your-pain-or/) [Matt Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hardy/) > [“Let your passion bleed through your work. No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-antonio-hall/let-your-passion-bleed-through-your-work-no-one-cares-how-much-you/) [Ace Antonio Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-antonio-hall/) > [“My advice to you is this- Whatever your passion may be, writing, reviewing, para-sailing, or teaching, whatever- don’t let that passion simmer down and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamera-m-sampson/my-advice-to-you-is-this-whatever-your-passion-may-be-writing/) [Chamera M. Sampson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamera-m-sampson/) > [“Let your passion and courage swell in you until you can no longer be contained by fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/let-your-passion-and-courage-swell-in-you-until-you-can-no-longer-be/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“In the darkness time, let your passion and spirit lead you to make a better decision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/in-the-darkness-time-let-your-passion-and-spirit-lead-you-to-make-a/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Let us do nothing through passion and ill temper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-do-nothing-through-passion-and-ill-temper/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Let passion be your muse. Let her guide and teach you to trust your instincts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/let-passion-be-your-muse-let-her-guide-and-teach-you-to-trust-your/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“Let your passion in life be as conspicuous as the devilish grin on your face.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/let-your-passion-in-life-be-as-conspicuous-as-the-devilish-grin-on/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Don't make your career be your life. let it be your passion. Let it bring you pleasure. But don't let it become your identity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/don-t-make-your-career-be-your-life-let-it-be-your-passion-let-it/) [Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/) > [“Envy is not a trait worth cultivating. Every successful life has an untold story. Instead, let passion drive you to succeed at your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ojingiri-hannah/envy-is-not-a-trait-worth-cultivating-every-successful-life-has-an/) [Ojingiri Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ojingiri-hannah/) > [“Let your passion become a passionate pursuit of Me. And as you follow, the sheep will follow.' (John 21:20-22)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swindoll-charles-r/let-your-passion-become-a-passionate-pursuit-of-me-and-as-you-follow/) [Swindoll Charles R](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swindoll-charles-r/) ## 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 Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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