Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) has been pronounced by many eminent critics
the most truly great of all the writers of fiction that France has
produced. This judgment has been questioned at times by admirers of Hugo
and Dumas, but on one point all students of French literature agree--that
as an analyst of human character Honore de Balzac never has had a peer.
As might have been expected of such a profound student of human nature,
Balzac on various occasions attempted to analyze the character of woman.
Many millions of men had essayed this task before Balzac's time and had
failed, as millions of other men have been failing ever since.
Philosophers have been the first to despair, for they contend that no
woman ever thoroughly understands herself or any other member of her
sex--in short, that she is to be understood only by the angels. But it is
generally believed that Balzac came nearer the truth in his estimate of
woman than any other novelist has done. Naturally his views were
conflicting. THE SCRAP BOOK herewith presents some of them.
When a woman pronounces the name of a man but twice a day, there may be
some doubt as to the nature of her sentiment--but three times!
* * * * *
In courting women, many dry wood for a fire that will not burn for them.
* * * * *
No man has yet discovered the means of successfully giving friendly advice
to women--not even to his own.
* * * * *
A man who can love deeply is never utterly contemptible.
* * * * *
Women are constantly the dupes, or else the victims, of their extreme
sensitiveness.
* * * * *
A man must be a fool who does not succeed in making a woman believe that
which flatters her.
* * * * *
A woman when she has passed forty becomes an illegible scrawl; only an old
woman is capable of divining old women.
* * * * *
A woman full of faith in the one she loves is but a novelist's fancy.
* * * * *
The mistakes of a woman result almost always from her faith in the good
and her confidence in the truth.
* * * * *
Woman is a charming creature, who changes her heart as easily as her
gloves.
* * * * *
The man who can govern a woman can govern a nation.
* * * * *
In the elevated order of ideas, the life of man is glory; the life of
woman is love.
* * * * *
Marriage has its unknown great men as war has its Napoleons and philosophy
its Descartes.
* * * * *
The Indian axiom "Do not strike even with a flower a woman guilty of a
hundred crimes," is my rule of conduct.
* * * * *
Most women proceed like the flea, by leaps and jumps.
* * * * *
When women love us, they forgive us everything, even our crimes. When they
do not love us, they give us credit for nothing, not even for our virtues.
* * * * *
Marriage should combat without respite or mercy that monster which devours
everything--habit.
* * * * *
There is one thing admirable in women: they never reason about their
blameworthy actions; even in their dissimulation here is an element of
sincerity.