Home > Author > Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
181 " Spesso ci si crede chiamate da Dio solo perché si è disgustate dagli uomini. "
― Pierre Choderlos de Laclos , Les Liaisons dangereuses
182 " She does not suspect what divinity it is I adore "
183 " You know how keen my desire is, how I thrive on obstacles; but what you do not know is how greatly solitude adds to the ardour of desire. "
184 " You may be able to conquer her love of God but you will not overcome her fear of the Devil; and when you hold your mistress in your arms and feel her hear beating, it will be in fear, not love "
185 " Only pleasure has the right to untie the love from one’s eyes "
186 " Yes, of course it is a sad emotion when it is not shared by the person inspiring it; but where is happiness to be found if not in mutual love? Cordial friendship, gentle trust—the only trust which knows no limits—sorrows soothed and pleasure enhanced, the charm of hope and of remembrance: where else can you find all these but in love? "
187 " I know how impatient love is "
188 " Your unhappiness has touched me so deeply that I shall do everything possible go alleviate it "
189 " I’m sure your lordship knows better than me,’ he said, ‘that going to bed with a girl only means getting her to do something she wants to do, but from that to getting her to do what me want is often quite another story. "
190 " I was still young and not very interesting; but my thoughts were the only things that belonged to me and I felt indignant that someone might snatch them from me or detect them against my will. "
191 " A man enjoys the pleasure he feels, a woman the pleasure she bestows. "
192 " This charm we find in other people is all in the mind; it's only love which makes the loved one appear so wonderful. "
193 " Didn’t you know that it’s not until after enjoying its delights that Love can stop being blind. "
194 " Draw near, woman, and hear what I have to say. Turnyour curiosity for once towards useful objects, and considerthe advantages which nature gave you and societyravished away. Come and learn how you were born thecompanion of man and became his slave; how you grewto like the condition and think it natural; and finally howthe long habituation of slavery so degraded you that youpreferred its sapping but convenient vices to the moredifficult virtues of freedom and repute. If the picture Ishall paint leaves you in command of yourselves, if youcan contemplate it without emotion, then go back to yourfutile pastimes; ‘there is no remedy; the vices havebecome the custom. "
― Pierre Choderlos de Laclos , De l'éducation des femmes
195 " Men can only judge thoughts by actions; and none of them, having lost the esteem of others, has the right to complain of the necessary mistrust, which makes that loss so difficult to repair. "
196 " The fortitude that you do not possess today, pray that you will receive tomorrow. Do not, however, count upon it to support you, but rather to encourage you to use every ounce of your own strength "
197 " … it is evident that it is this unfortunate passion that is tormenting her "
198 " … perfections are chimerical and exist only in… imagination. "
199 " Man enjoys the happiness he feels, woman that she gives. "
200 " Je joins à cette Lettre celle que vous m'avez écrite, et j'espère que vous voudrez bien de même me remettre celle-ci; je serais vraiment peinée qu'il restât aucune trace d'un événement qui n'eût jamais dû exister. J'ai l'honneur d'être, etc. "