There are moments in life when all that we can bear is the sense that our friend is near us our wounds would wince at consoling words that would reveal the depths of our pain.

— Honore de Balzac

There are some women whose pregnancy would make some sly bachelor smile.

— Honore de Balzac

There is no such thing as a great talent without great will power.

— Honore de Balzac

The smallest flower is a thought, a life answering to some feature of the Great Whole, of whom they have a persistent intuition.

— Honore de Balzac

To provoke laughter without joining in it greatly heightens the effect.

— Honore de Balzac

To those who have exhausted politics, nothing remains but abstract thought.

— Honore de Balzac

True love is eternal infinite and always like itself. It is equal and pure without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart.

— Honore de Balzac

True love is eternal, infinite, and always like itself. It is equal and pure, without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart.

— Honore de Balzac

We are never either so wretched or so happy as we say we are.

— Honore de Balzac

We exaggerate misfortune and happiness alike. We are never as bad off or as happy as we say we are.

— Honore de Balzac