--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many men are deeply moved by the mere…" description: "\"Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of suffering in a woman; they take the look of pain for a sign of constancy or of love.\" — Honore de Ba..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png" --- # Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of… ![“Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of suffering in a woman; they take the look of pain for a sign of constancy or of love.” quote by Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png) > “Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of suffering in a woman; they take the look of pain for a sign of constancy or of love.” [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. The quote suggests that men are attracted to a woman's suffering, mistaking her pain for loyalty or love, reflecting a distorted perception of affection. **In simple terms:** Men may confuse a woman's pain with love. Key Takeaway Recognize genuine affection. Themes gender dynamics empathy misinterpretation love power perception Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - courtship - emotional support - mental health Key Concepts emotional projection romantic idealization psychological manipulation Questions to Reflect On - Why do we romanticize pain? - How can we foster healthier perceptions? A Different Perspective Such views can perpetuate harmful stereotypes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constancy/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“No one inflicts more suffering than a woman embittered by disappointment in love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-davis/no-one-inflicts-more-suffering-than-a-woman-embittered-by/) [Miranda Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-davis/) > [Beauty is the still birth of suffering, every woman knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-prager/beauty-is-the-still-birth-of-suffering-every-woman-knows-that/) Emily Prager > [I think most men are deeply basic and uninteresting and that is fascinating to me. Especially if they have the audacity to rag on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-think-most-men-are-deeply-basic-and-uninteresting-and-that-is/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [Despite the success cult, men are most deeply moved not by the reaching of the goal but by the grandness of the effort involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/despite-the-success-cult-men-are-most-deeply-moved-not-by-the/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Till men are deeply humbled, they can part with Christ and Salvation for a lust, for a little wordly gain, for that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/till-men-are-deeply-humbled-they-can-part-with-christ-and-salvation/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [Constancy will always be the genius of love, the indication of that strength which constitutes the poet. A man should possess all women in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/constancy-will-always-be-the-genius-of-love-the-indication-of-that/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [I am deeply moved by sculptures of powerful women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-turner-smith/i-am-deeply-moved-by-sculptures-of-powerful-women/) [Jodie Turner-Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-turner-smith/) > [ My own father had died of Alzheimer's. George \[Mitchell\] had been also, I think, deeply moved by a similar tragedy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/my-own-father-had-died-of-alzheimer-s-george-mitchell-had-been-also-i/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [Yet for my part, deeply as I am moved by the religious architecture of the Middle Ages, I cannot honestly say that I ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goldwin-smith/yet-for-my-part-deeply-as-i-am-moved-by-the-religious-architecture-of/) [Goldwin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goldwin-smith/) > [Morally and philosophically I find myself in agreement with virtually the whole of it: and not only in agreement with it, but in deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/morally-and-philosophically-i-find-myself-in-agreement-with-virtually/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [I am deeply moved by the warmth and courage of the Canadian people which I felt so strongly during my recent visit to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-am-deeply-moved-by-the-warmth-and-courage-of-the-canadian-people/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“The pleasure of criticism takes away from us the pleasure of being deeply moved by very fine things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/the-pleasure-of-criticism-takes-away-from-us-the-pleasure-of-being/) [Jean de La Bruyère](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Once the object has been constructed, I have a tendency to discover in it, transformed and displaced, images, impressions, facts which have deeply moved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-giacometti/once-the-object-has-been-constructed-i-have-a-tendency-to-discover-in/) [Alberto Giacometti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-giacometti/) > [There were now and then, though rarely, the hours that brought the welcome shock, pulled down the walls and brought me back again from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/there-were-now-and-then-though-rarely-the-hours-that-brought-the/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I was reading Carl Sandburg and Gwendolyn Brooks, and I'm still very, very deeply moved by Gwendolyn Brooks's life and her work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-was-reading-carl-sandburg-and-gwendolyn-brooks-and-i-m-still-very/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) ## 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 Constancy quotes > [I was always anti-marriage. I didn't understand monogamy. I couldn't figure out how that could last. And then I met Bryn and I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bello/i-was-always-anti-marriage-i-didn-t-understand-monogamy-i-couldn-t/) [Maria Bello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bello/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The word "hope" I take for faith; and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-word-hope-i-take-for-faith-and-indeed-hope-is-nothing-else-but/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [The fickleness of the women I love is only equalled by the infernal constancy of the women who love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-fickleness-of-the-women-i-love-is-only-equalled-by-the-infernal/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [By the disposition of a stupendous wisdom, moulding together the great mysterious incorporation of the human race, the whole, at one time, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/by-the-disposition-of-a-stupendous-wisdom-moulding-together-the-great/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Even gods decay. Like, in 1890 somebody sold off thousands of mummified Ancient Egyptian sacred cats - \_for fertilizer\_. Get the point? Constancy isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gash/even-gods-decay-like-in-1890-somebody-sold-off-thousands-of-mummified/) [Jonathan Gash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gash/) > [Prayer is the pulse of the renewed soul; and the constancy of its beat is the test and measure of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavius-winslow/prayer-is-the-pulse-of-the-renewed-soul-and-the-constancy-of-its-beat/) [Octavius Winslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavius-winslow/) > [To grasp life and meaning, we assume constancy where it does not exist. We name experiences, emotions, and subjective states and assume that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-grasp-life-and-meaning-we-assume-constancy-where-it-does-not-exist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Feeling the security and constancy of love from a spouse, a parent or a child is a rich blessing. Such love nurtures and sustains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/feeling-the-security-and-constancy-of-love-from-a-spouse-a-parent-or/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [But keeping secrets is a discipline. I never use to think of myself as a good liar, but after having had some practice I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/but-keeping-secrets-is-a-discipline-i-never-use-to-think-of-myself-as/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Constancy does not begin, but is that which perseveres.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/constancy-does-not-begin-but-is-that-which-perseveres/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“The secret to success is constancy of purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/the-secret-to-success-is-constancy-of-purpose/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Whatever is genuine in social relations endures, despite of time, error, absence, and destiny; and that which has no inherent vitality had better die…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-theodore-tuckerman/whatever-is-genuine-in-social-relations-endures-despite-of-time-error/) [Henry Theodore Tuckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-theodore-tuckerman/) > [“Not by fitful efforts, but by constancy, is an end secured. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wortabet/not-by-fitful-efforts-but-by-constancy-is-an-end-secured-the/) [John Wortabet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wortabet/) [Browse all 196 Constancy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constancy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of suffering in a woman; they take the look of pain for a sign of constancy or of love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Honore de Balzac" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-semblance-of-suffering-in-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Constancy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-semblance-of-suffering-in-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/honor-de-balzac-197_constancy_many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-se_1625538.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of suffering in a woman; they take the look of pain for a…” — 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": "Many men are deeply moved by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-semblance-of-suffering-in-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/many-men-are-deeply-moved-by-the-mere-semblance-of-suffering-in-a/#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 } } ] } ```