Years do not make sages; they only make old men.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Age
To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Love
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
The chains which cramp us most are those which weigh on us least.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Trifles
Strength alone knows conflict; weakness is below even defeat, and is born vanquished.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Strength
Pride dries the tears of anger and vexation; humility, those of grief. The one is indignant that we should suffer: the other calms us by the reminder that we deserve nothing else.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Tears
The world has no sympathy with any but positive griefs; it will pity you for what you lose, but never for what you lack.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Sympathy
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
Providence has hidden a charm in difficult undertakings, which is appreciated only by those who dare to grapple with them.
—Sophie Swetchine
Repentance is accepted remorse.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Repentance, Forgiveness
To have ideas is to gather flowers; to think, is to weave them into garlands.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Ideas
The ideal friendship is to feel as one while remaining two.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Friends and Friendship
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 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 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
Each moment, as it passes, is the meeting place of two eternities.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Time
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
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
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
There is, by God’s grace, an immeasurable distance between late and too late.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Procrastination
Youth should be a savings bank.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Youth
We do not judge men by what they are in themselves, but by what they are relatively to us.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Judgment
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
Our vanity is the constant enemy of our dignity.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Vanity
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
Travel is the frivolous part of serious lives and the serious part of frivolous lives.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Travel
Kindness causes us to learn, and to forget, many things.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Kindness, Service, Compassion
As we advance in life the circle of our pains enlarges, while that of our pleasures contracts.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Age
We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.
—Sophie Swetchine
Topics: Strength
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Nikolai Berdyaev Russian Philosopher
- Konstantin 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
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