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Inspirational Quotations

by RightAttitudes.com

Inspirational Quotes by Sophie Swetchine (Russian Mystic, Writer)

Inspirational Quotations by Sophie Swetchine (Russian Mystic, Writer)

Anne Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857,) née Soymonoff or Soymanova, was a Russian mystic, writer, and salonnière.

Born in Moscow, Swetchine was the daughter of one of the Empress Catherine the Great’s closest advisors. Swetchine was educated well, spoke many European languages, and became the lady-in-waiting to Empress Maria Fedorovna.

In 1799, Swetchine married General Nicholas Sergeyevich Swetchine, but the couple could not have children. She turned to religion for comfort, came under the influence of the Savoyard philosopher Joseph de Maistre, and converted to Roman Catholicism in 1815. Settling in Paris, Swetchine fostered her religious leanings by maintaining a private chapel. She opened a salon in Paris that became famous for not only its spiritual atmosphere but also its courtesy and intellect.

Swetchine’s Life and Works (2 vols., 1860,) celebrated for its mysticism, was published posthumously by French politician and author Frédéric Alfred Pierre, comte de Falloux. They were followed by her Letters (2 vols., 1861.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Sophie Swetchine

There are two ways of attaining an important end, force and perseverance; the silent power of the latter grows irresistible with time.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Perseverance, Goals

The best of lessons, for a good many people, would be, to listen at a key hole.—It is a pity for such that the practice is dishonorable.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Conceit

To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Love

There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously, when we walk uprightly.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Example, Reform, Correction

It is the enemy who keeps the sentinel watchful.
—Sophie Swetchine

We are rich only through what we give; and poor only through what we refuse and keep.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Giving, Charity

The fact that God has prohibited despair gives misfortune the right to hope all things, and leaves hope free to dare all things.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Despair

There are not good things enough in life, to indemnify us for the neglect of a single duty.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Duty

Those who make us happy are always thankful to us for being so; their gratitude is the reward of their benefits.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Gratitude

By becoming more unhappy, we sometimes learn how to be less so.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Happiness, Difficulties, Adversity, Unhappiness

In order to have an enemy, one must be somebody.—One must be a force before he can be resisted by another force—a malicious enemy is better than a clumsy friend.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Enemies, Enemy

We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Strength

It is a little stream which flows softly, but it freshens everything along its course.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Moderation

To have ideas is to gather flowers; to think, is to weave them into garlands.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Ideas

Kindness causes us to learn, and to forget, many things.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Kindness, Compassion, Service

The ideal friendship is to feel as one while remaining two.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Friends and Friendship

When two truths seem directly opposed to each other, we must not question either, but remember there is a third—God—who reserves to himself the right to harmonize them.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Truth

I study much, and the more I study the oftener I go back to those first principles which are so simple that childhood itself can lisp them.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Study

We forgive too little; forget too much.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Forgiveness

Repentance is accepted remorse.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Repentance, Forgiveness

How easy to be amiable in the midst of happiness and success.
—Sophie Swetchine

In youth we feel richer for every new illusion; in maturer years, for every one we lose.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Illusion

In the opinion of the world marriage ends all, as it does in a comedy.—The truth is precisely the reverse; it begins all.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Marriage

Strength alone knows conflict; weakness is below even defeat, and is born vanquished.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Strength

The best advice on the art of being happy is about as easy to follow as advice to be well when one is sick.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Happiness

If it were ever allowable to forget what is due to superiority of rank, it would be when the privileged themselves remembered it.
—Sophie Swetchine

Youth should be a savings bank.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Youth

We expect everything and are prepared for nothing.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Expectations, Expectation

Years do not make sages; they only make old men.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Age

Prayer, says St. Jerome, “is a groan.” Ah! our groans are prayers as well. The very cry of distress is an involuntary appeal to that invisible Power whose aid the soul invokes.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Prayer

There is, by God’s grace, an immeasurable distance between late and too late.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Procrastination

What I most value next to eternity, is time.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Time

Travel is the frivolous part of serious lives and the serious part of frivolous lives.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Travel

Might we not say to the confused voices which sometimes arise from the depths of our being: “Ladies, be so kind as to speak only four at a time?”
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Sanity

Those who have suffered much are like those who know many languages; they have learned to understand and be understood by all.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Adversity

The chains which cramp us most are those which weigh on us least.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Trifles

In this world of change naught which comes stays and naught which goes is lost.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Change

There are two ways of attaining an important end-force and perseverance. Force falls to the lot only of the privileged few, but austere and sustained perseverance can be practised by the most insignificant.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Perseverance

We are often prophets to others, only because we are our own historians.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Experience

If we look closely at this world, where God seems so utterly forgotten, we shall find that it is he, who, after all, commands the most fidelity and the most love.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: God

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