One can acquire everything in solitude except character.
StendhalRead
Our true passions are selfish.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True passions stem from individual desires rather than altruism.
The quote by Stendhal suggests that our genuine passions and interests often arise from personal desires and are inherently selfish. While many may wish to view their passions as noble or selfless, recognizing this selfishness can lead to a deeper understanding of why we pursue certain activities, fulfilling our own needs or gratifications rather than those of others.
Themes
PassionSelfishnessDesireIndividualityTruth
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing one's true calling in life.
More from Stendhal
All quotes →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.
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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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