Le titre général [of Balzac’s novels] est la Comédie humaine.

Le secret des grandes fortunes sans cause apparente est un crime oublié .

Je ne suis pas profond, mais très épais, et il faut du temps pour faire le tour de ma personne .

“I’ve been tormented by evil thoughts.”

The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.

Generous people make bad shopkeepers .

We exaggerate misfortune and happiness alike. We are never either so wretched or so happy as we say we are.

Marriage must incessantly contend with a monster that devours everything familiarity.

I believe in the incomprehensibility of God.

One should believe in marriage as in the immortality of the soul.