Sublime

What devouring kind of toil could have so shriveled him? What devouring passions had darkened that bulbous countenance, which would have seemed outrageous as a caricature? What had he been?

was, to let everything go on in its own way; of particular public business, Monseigneur had the other truly noble idea that it must all go his way—tend to his own power and pocket.

It is said that no man is a hero to his valet. That is only because a hero can be recognised only by a hero. The valet will probably know how to appreciate his like,—his fellow-valet.

The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off

He was at every moment disposed to lend, never to give. Always, whatever his mode of living, he kept for himself alone the most authentic and most subtle element of his being. He left the rest to prattle on, to move with the herd, to get borne aloft, to preach and parade; he left the world to follow its chaotic crazed paths and only concerned himse

Les Illusions perdues sont une peinture des mœurs du temps, d’un réalisme et d’une ampleur tels que la littérature française n’en a pas encore connu, et accessoirement, mais dans les profondeurs, un examen de conscience décisif de Balzac. En deux personnages il expose ce que devient un écrivain — ou ce qu’il peut devenir — s’il reste sévèrement fid

Les livres dans sa chambre, les gens dans la rue, et un regard qui pénètre toutes choses : les pensées et les faits, cela suffit pour construire un monde. Dès l’instant où Balzac se met à travailler il n’existe plus rien de réel autour de lui que ce qu’il crée.