Stendhal Thinking Quotations

Conversationis like the table of contents of a dull book.... All the greatest subjects of human thought are proudly displayedin it. Listen to it for three minutes, and you ask yourself which is more striking, the emphasis of the speaker or his shocking ignorance.

The English are, I think the most obtuse and barbarous people in the world

Every true passion thinks only of itself.

If you think of paying court to the men in power, your eternal ruin is assured.

I think no woman I have had ever gave me so sweet a moment, or at so light a price, as the moment I owe to a newly heard musical phrase.

This religion takes away the courage of thinking of unusual things and prohibits self-examination above all as the most egregiousof sins.... It is one step away from protestantism.

I think being condemned to death is the only real distinction," said Mathilde. "It is the only thing which cannot be bought.

I used to think of deathlike I suppose soldiers think of it: it was a possible thing that I could well avoid by my skill.