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The politeness of the upper classes of France, and probably of England, prohibits all energy, and wears it out, if it by chance existed.

— Stendhal Souvenirs d'égotisme (Memoirs of an Egotist) (1832)

La politesse des hautes classes de France, et probablement d'Angleterre, proscrit toute énergie, et l'use, si elle existait par hasard.

Original text (French)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Ch. 7

More quotes by Stendhal

I call "crystallization" that action of the mind that discovers fresh perfections in its beloved at every turn of events.

De L'Amour (On Love) (1822)

In love, unlike most other passions, the recollection of what you have had and lost is always better than what you can hope for in the future.

De L'Amour (On Love) (1822)

When a man leaves his mistress, he runs the risk of being betrayed two or three times daily.

Le Rouge et le Noir (The Red and the Black) (1830)

One can acquire everything in solitude — except character.

De L'Amour (On Love) (1822)

Any man who talks about his love affairs thereby proves he is ignorant of love and is moved only by vanity.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Stendhal (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.