True love makes the thought of death frequent, easy, without terrors; it merely becomes the standard of comparison, the price one would pay for many things.
StendhalRead
One can acquire everything in solitude except character.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Character is shaped by interactions with others, not by isolation.
The quote by Stendhal emphasizes the idea that while one might achieve material success or knowledge in solitude, true character—moral and ethical integrity—can only be developed through social interactions and experiences with others. It suggests that human connections and relationships are essential for personal growth and understanding.
Themes
CharacterSolitudeGrowthRelationshipsInteraction
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal development at a seminar, you might say this quote to highlight the importance of community.
More from Stendhal
All quotes →In love, unlike most other passions, the recollection of what you have had and lost is always better than what you can hope for in the future.
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A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love.
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If you don't love me, it does not matter, anyway I can love for both of us.
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Pleasure is often spoiled by describing it.
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Beauty is nothing other than the promise of happiness.
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There are two victims in every abortion: a dead baby and a dead conscience.
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