Anne Louise Germaine de Staël

“Who talks from thought and reflection is rarely eloquent; Madame de Staël was the only exception I ever knew to that rule.”

“The human mind always makes progress, but it is a progress in spirals.”

“The desire of the man is for the woman, but the desire of the woman is for the desire of the man.”

“Le sens de ce mot, chez les Grecs, en est la plus noble définition: l'enthousiasme signifie Dieu en nous .”

“Ces règles ne sont que des barrières pour empêcher les enfants de tomber.”

“La recherche de la vérité est la plus noble des occupations, et sa publication un devoir.”

“L'admiration pour le beau se rapporte toujours à la Divinité.”

“La religion n'est rien si elle n'est pas tout, si l'existence n'en est pas remplie.”

“La voix de la conscience est si délicate, qu'il est facile d'étouffer; mais elle est si pure, qu'il est impossible de la méconnaître.”

“L'esprit consiste à connaître la ressemblance des choses diverses et la différence des choses semblables.”

“There is perhaps too much freedom in Protestantism to satisfy a certain religious austerity, which may seize upon the man who is overwhelmed by great misfortunes; sometimes even in the habitual course of life, the reality of this world disappears all at once, and we feel ourselves in the middle of its interests as we should at a ball, where we did not hear the music; the dancing that we saw there would appear insane.”

“Innocence in genius, and candor in power, are both noble qualities.”

“Be happy, but be so by piety.”

“Tout comprendre rend très-indulgent.”

“Ought not every woman, like every man, to follow the bent of her own talents?”

“O Earth! all bathed with blood and tears, yet never Hast thou ceased putting forth thy fruit and flowers.”

“Danger is like wine, it goes to your head.”

“A religious life is a struggle and not a hymn.”

“Atheism exists only in coldness, selfishness, and baseness.”

“Let us then blend everything: love, religion, genius, with sunshine, perfume, music, and poetry.”