Madeleine de Scudery Quotes
Madeleine de Scudery was a French novelist, salonniere, and philosopher of the seventeenth century, the most widely read living writer of her age in any language and the central figure of the Parisian Saturday salon. Her ten-volume novels Artamene, ou Le Grand Cyrus and Clelie, histoire romaine, vehicles for a sustained philosophical conversation on love, friendship, courage, and conduct of life, made her the most influential interpreter of the ethics of honnetete and gallantry in the language. The quotes below are attributed to Madeleine de Scudery, organized by topic.
Madeleine de Scudery on Knowledge
-
“Women should despise slander, and fear to provoke it.”
p. 74 -
“The head, however strong it may be, can accomplish nothing against the heart.”
p. 185 -
“Love is — I know not what; which comes — I know not whence; which is formed — I know not how; which enchants — I know not by what; and which ends — I know not when or why.”
p. 221
Madeleine de Scudery on Love
-
Attributed to Madeleine de Scudery:
“Love is the longest school of moral philosophy.”
-
Attributed to Madeleine de Scudery:
“He who would understand friendship must first understand the art of conversation.”
-
“Love is a capricious creature which desires everything and can be contented with almost nothing.”
Reported in David Newnham, "Love: Books" , The Guardian (10 February 2002), online -
“Reported in David Newnham, "Love: Books" , The Guardian (10 February 2002), online”
Love is a capricious creature which desires everything and can be contented with almost nothing. -
“Love makes mutes of those who habitually speak most fluently.”
p. 30
Madeleine de Scudery on Politics
-
Attributed to Madeleine de Scudery:
“There is no good society without a sustained philosophical conversation among its members.”
-
Attributed to Madeleine de Scudery:
“What women have learned in the ordering of households, men might profitably learn in the ordering of states.”
Madeleine de Scudery on Virtue
-
Attributed to Madeleine de Scudery:
“Courage is the form virtue takes when fortune turns against it.”
-
“How many people assume boldly the mask of virtue!”
p. 54