Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
Madame De StaelRead
Intellect does not attain its full force unless it attacks power.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Intellect must engage with and challenge power to reach its full potential.
In this quote, Madame De Stael emphasizes the importance of combining intellect with a critical stance towards authority and power. She suggests that true intellectual strength and capacity are realized only when one uses their knowledge and critical thinking skills to question, challenge, and confront the structures of power that exist in society.
Themes
IntellectPowerChallengeAuthorityKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on social justice, this quote underscores the necessity of engaging with those in power.
More from Madame De Stael
All quotes βWhen at eve, at the bounding of the landscape, the heavens appear to recline so slowly on the earth, imagination pictures beyond the horizon an asylum of hope, - a native land of love; and nature seems silently to repeat that man is immortal.
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The more we know the better we forgive. Whoever feels deeply, feels for all who live.
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The human mind always makes progress, but it is a progress in spirals.
Madame De StaelRead
Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.
Madame De StaelRead
Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts.
Madame De StaelRead
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