Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné

Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sévigné (5 February 1626 – 17 April 1696) was a French aristocrat, remembered for her letter-writing. Most of her letters, celebrated for their wit and vividness, were addressed to her daughter.

Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations

 * Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922).


 * L'ingratitude attire les reproches comme la reconnaissance attire de nouveaux bienfaits.
 * Ingratitude calls forth reproaches as gratitude brings renewed kindnesses.
 * Lettres.


 * Il n'y a personne qui ne soit dangereux pour quelqu'un.
 * There is no person who is not dangerous for some one.
 * Lettres.


 * Fortune is always on the side of the largest battalions.
 * Letters, 202.


 * Ah! comme vous dites, il faut glisser sur bien des pensées, et ne faire pas semblant de les voir.
 * Ah! as you say, we should slip over many thoughts and act as though we did not perceive them.
 * Lettres, 70.

Misattributed

 * La mode d'aimer Racine passera comme la mode du café.
 * The fashion of liking Racine will pass away like that of coffee.
 * According to Voltaire, Letters (Jan. 29, 1690), who connected two remarks of hers to make the phrase; one from a letter March 16, 1679, the other, March 10, 1672. La Harpe reduced the mot to "Racine passera comme le café."