Honore de Balzac (1799 – 1850) was a French novelist and playwright. The novel sequence La Comedie Humaine, which presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus. Owing to his keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of society, Balzac is regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature. He is renowned for his multi-faceted characters. Even his lesser characters are complex, morally ambiguous and fully human. La Comedie Humaine reflects his real-life difficulties, and includes scenes from his own experience. Many of Balzac’s works have been made into films, and they continue to inspire other writers.
Quotes by Honore de Balzac…
Miracles are within us, natural facts which some call supernormal.
None are superior to what you might become.
Everyone believes in virtue, but who is virtuous?
A man’s affections are just as fully satisfied by the smallest circle as they can be by a larger circle.
A man’s own vanity is a swindler.
Virtuous people have almost always a slight suspicion of their situation. They think they are being duped in the great market of life.
Nothing is a greater barrier to being on good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself.
Gentleness in the gait is what simplicity is in the dress. Violent gestures or quick movements inspire involuntary disrespect.
To imagine that five hundred men, drawn from every corner of the kingdom, will make a good law! Is it not a dreary joke, for which the people will sooner or later have to pay? They have a change of masters, that is all.
To live in the presence of great truths and eternal laws… that is what keeps a man patient when the world ignores him, and calm and unspoiled when the world praises him.