Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
Madame De StaelRead
Wit consists in knowing the resemblance of things that differ, and the difference of things that are alike.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Wit involves understanding nuances between similar and different concepts.
This quote by Madame De Stael emphasizes the intellectual skill of wit, which is the ability to discern similarities between disparate things and differences among similar ones. Such understanding allows for deeper insights and clever humor, revealing layers of meaning that are often overlooked.
Themes
WitWisdomUnderstandingIntellectPerception
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of perception in innovative thinking.
More from Madame De Stael
All quotes βWhen at eve, at the bounding of the landscape, the heavens appear to recline so slowly on the earth, imagination pictures beyond the horizon an asylum of hope, - a native land of love; and nature seems silently to repeat that man is immortal.
Madame De StaelRead
The more we know the better we forgive. Whoever feels deeply, feels for all who live.
Madame De StaelRead
Intellect does not attain its full force unless it attacks power.
Madame De StaelRead
The human mind always makes progress, but it is a progress in spirals.
Madame De StaelRead
Wit lies in recognizing the resemblance among things which differ and the difference between things which are alike.
Madame De StaelRead
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