Quotes from Xavier de Maistre

Imagination, realm of enchantment!- which the most beneficent of beings bestowed upon man to console him for reality- I must quit you now.

Imagination, realm of enchantment!- which the most beneficent of beings bestowed upon man to console him for reality- I must quit you now.

After all, is there any person so unhappy, so abandoned, that he doesn't have a little den into which he can withdraw and hide away from everyone? Nothing more elaborate is needed for the journey.

I have come to the conclusion, by way of various observations, that man is composed of a soul and a beast. These two beings are absolutely distinct, but closely fitted together, or one on top of the other, that the soul must have a certain superiority over the beast to be in a position to draw a distinction between them.

When I have had enough of tears and love, I turn to some poet, and set out again for a new world.

The ephemeral spectator of an eternal spectacle, man raises his eyes a moment to the sky, then shuts them forever; yet during that brief moment granted him, from every point of the sky, from every limit of the universe, a consoling beam is cast from each world and meets his gaze to tell him that there is indeed a connection between infinity and him, and that he is part of eternity.

Bir yatakta do?ar, bir yatakta ölürüz. ?nsan soyunun ilginç dramlar?, gülünç komedileri ve korkunç trajedileri oynad??? gerçek sahnedir buras?. Çiçeklerle süslü bir be?iktir; A?k Tanr?ças?'n?n taht?d?r; mezard?r.

Een bed ziet ons geboren worden en ziet ons doodgaan; het is een wisselend toneel waar het mensdom beurtelings boeiende drama's, lachwekkende kluchten en afschuwelijke treurspelen opvoer. - Het is een met bloemen versierde wieg; - het is de troon der liefde; - het is een graf.

En verdad es posible ser tan desdichado, estar tan aislado como para no tener un refugio para apartarse y esconderse de la gente

No es en la cama donde una madre, embriagada de felicidad por el nacimiento de su hijo, olvida sus dolores? Es ahí donde los fantásticos gozos, producto de la imaginación y la esperanza, vienen a agitarnos. En fin, es en este mueble delicioso que olvidamos durante la mitad de la vida los pesares de la otra mitad

Feliz aquel que encuentre un amigo cuyo corazón y mente lo comprendan!, ¡un amigo que se una a él por una comunión de gustos, sentimientos y convicciones!, ¡un amigo sin el tormento de la ambición o el interés, que prefiera la sombra de un árbol a las pompas de una corte! ¡feliz el que posee un amigo!

Who can explain the reasons for a daydream?

What a splendid piece of furniture an armchair is, of utmost importance and usefulness to a contemplative man. During those long winter evenings, it is often sweet and always advisable to stretch out luxuriously in one, far from the din of crowds. A good fire, a few books, some quills - what excellent antidotes to boredom!

Mi biblioteca, ya que es preciso decíroslo, se compone de novelas... sí, de novelas... y de algunos poetas escogidos. Como si no tuviese bastante con mis propios males, comparto aún voluntariamente los de mil personajes imaginarios, y los siento tan vivamente como los míos.