Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Marguerite De Valois, or Margaret of Valois, Marguerite de France

Queen of France and Queen of Navarre

"A woman of honor should not suspect another of things she would not do herself."

"The more hidden the venom, the more dangerous it is."

"Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and strengthening the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favouring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy."

"Delicacy is the genuine tint of virtue."

"Excitement is the drunkenness of the spirits. Only calm waters reflect heaven in their bosom."

"Bashfulness is not becoming to maidenhood, though modesty always is."

"Blushes cannot be counterfeited."

"God has put into the heart of man love and the boldness to sue, and into the heart of woman fear and the courage to refuse."

"Gold adulterated one thing only?the human heart."

"Have a care lest the wrinkles in the face extend to the heart."

"I should rejoice if my pleasures were as pleasing to God as they are to myself."

"In love as in war, a fortress that parleys is half taken."

"It is only the educated who can produce or appreciate high art."

"It is the same in love as in war; a fortress that parleys is half taken."

"No one perfectly loves God who does not perfectly love some of his creatures."

"Servitude is inherent; we are all slaves to duty or to force."

"Tears may be dried up, but the heart - never."

"Temptations, like misfortunes, are sent to test our moral strength."

"The cup of joy is heaviest when empty."

"The woman who does not choose to love should cut the matter short at once, by holding out no hopes to her suitor."

"There are few husbands whom the wife cannot win in the long run, by patience and love."

"There are women so hard to please that it would seem as if nothing less than an angel would suit them; and hence it comes that they often encounter devils."

"There is in us more of the appearance of sense and virtue than of the reality."

"Women suffer more from disappointment than men, because they have more of faith and are naturally more credulous."