Quote

Beauty is the greatest of human powers. Any power without counterbalance or control becomes autocratic and leads to abuse and to folly. Despotism in a government is insanity in woman, fantasy.

Honore de Balzac

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Honore de Balzac
Age: 52 †
Born: 1799
Born: May 20
Died: 1851
Died: August 19
Art Critic
Dramaturge
Essayist
Journalist
Literary Critic
Novelist
Prosaist
Writer
Tours
France
Balzac
Horace de Saint- Aubin
Onoreh deh Balzaḳ
Lord R'Hoone
Ônôrē de Balzaq
Jeune ceélibataire
Onore de Balzak
Honorato De Balzac
H. Balzak
Honoreé De Balzac
H. Balzac
Horace de S.- Aubin
Honoriusz Balzac
Un Jeune ceélibataire
Lord O'Rhoone
Ūnūrīh dī Balzāk
R'Hoone
Onore de Bal'zak
Hônôrê đơ Banzăc
Honore de Balzak
de. Balzac
Humans
Becomes
Autocratic
Without
Control
Despotism
Greatest
Insanity
Beauty
Folly
Woman
Powers
Power
Abuse
Government
Leads
Human
Fantasy
Counterbalance

More quotes by Honore de Balzac

Image
When tempted to be unfaithful, the intellectual woman will try to inspire her husband with indifference, the sentimental woman with hatred, and the passionate woman with disgust.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Small natures require despotism to exercise their sinews, as great souls thirst for equality to give play to their heart.
Honore de Balzac
Image
A woman questions the man who loves exactly as a judge questions a criminal. This being so, a flash of the eye, a mere word, an inflection of the voice or a moment's hesitation suffice to expose the fact, betrayal or crime he is attempting to conceal.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Liberty begets anarchy, anarchy leads to despotism, and despotism brings about liberty once again. Millions of human beings have perished without being able to make any of these systems triumph.
Honore de Balzac
Image
While seeking out the dead, I see nothing but the living.
Honore de Balzac
Image
All human beings go through a previous life... Who knows how many fleshly forms the heir of heaven occupies before he can be brought to understand the value of that silence and solitude of spiritual worlds?
Honore de Balzac
Image
Remorse is impotence, impotence which sins again. Repentance alone is powerful it ends all.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Incurable wounds are those inflicted by tongue and eye, by mockery and disdain.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Love is not only a feeling, it is also an art. A simple word, a sensitive precaution, a mere nothing reveal to a woman the sublime artist who can touch her heart without withering it.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Gentleness in the gait is what simplicity is in the dress. Violent gestures or quick movements inspire involuntary disrespect.
Honore de Balzac
Image
A knowledge of mankind and of things that surround us gives us that second education which proves far move valuable than our first because it alone turns out a truly accomplished man.
Honore de Balzac
Image
How did you get back?' asked Vautrin. 'I walked,' replied Eugene. 'I wouldn't like half-pleasures, myself,' observed the tempter. 'I'd want to go there in my own carriage, have my own box, and come back in comfort. All or nothing, that's my motto.' 'And a very good one,' said Madame Vauquer.
Honore de Balzac
Image
During the great storms of our lives we imitate those captains who jettison their weightiest cargo.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Rich men are resolved to be astonished at nothing. When they see a masterpiece, they must needs at one glance recognize some flaw to dispense them from admiration, a vulgar emotion.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Thought is a key to all treasures the miser's gains are ours without his cares. Thus I have soared above this world, where my enjoyments have been intellectual joys.
Honore de Balzac
Image
A young bride is like a plucked flower but a guilty wife is like a flower that had been walked over.
Honore de Balzac
Image
White hair often covers the head, but the heart that holds it is ever young.
Honore de Balzac
Image
He hesitated till the last moment, but finally dropped them in the box, saying, I shall win!--the cry of a gambler, the cry of the great general, the compulsive cry that has ruined more men than it has ever saved.
Honore de Balzac
Image
Love or hatred must constantly increase between two persons who are always together every moment fresh reasons are found for loving or hating better.
Honore de Balzac
Image
It's catastrophies which turn wise and strong people into philosophers.
Honore de Balzac