One can acquire everything in solitude except character.
StendhalRead
To be loved at first sight, a man should have at the same time something to respect and something to pity in his face.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True admiration stems from a blend of respect and empathy.
Stendhal suggests that genuine love at first sight arises not only from admiration but also from the complexity of human emotion, which entails recognizing both admirable qualities and vulnerabilities in a person's appearance. This duality creates a deeper connection that transcends mere physical attraction, inviting a unique form of affection based on respect and compassion.
Themes
LoveAdmirationEmpathyRespectVulnerability
In practice
Example use cases
In a romantic speech at a wedding, one might use this quote to express the beauty of complex emotions in relationships.
More from Stendhal
All quotes βTrue love makes the thought of death frequent, easy, without terrors; it merely becomes the standard of comparison, the price one would pay for many things.
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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.
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A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.
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If you don't love me, it does not matter, anyway I can love for both of us.
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Pleasure is often spoiled by describing it.
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The mechanics of love imply some sort of bridge between the sensual and the spiritual, sometimes to the point of deification; the notion of an afterlife is implicit not only in our couplings, but also in our separations.
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