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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Nikolai Berdyaev Russian Christian Philosopher
Constantin Stanislavski Russian Actor
Anna Pavlova Russian Ballerina
Thomas Browne English Author, Physician
Swami Vivekananda Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic
Hafez Persian Poet
Paramahansa Yogananda Indian Hindu Mystic
Aleister Crowley English Occultist
Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan British Sufi Mystic
Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi Persian Muslim Mystic