“ It is hard for noble natures to think evil, to believe in ingratitude ”
Honoré de Balzac, Lost Illusions (1843). copy citation
Author | Honoré de Balzac |
---|---|
Source | Lost Illusions |
Topic | evil ingratitude |
Date | 1843 |
Language | English |
Reference | |
Note | Translated by Ellen Marriage |
Weblink | https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/13159/pg13159.html |
Context
“Kolb would sooner cut off his hand than work a lever for the Cointets; Kolb would not peer among the things that you throw out into the yard if people offered him a thousand crowns to do it; but Cerizet picks them up and looks at them."
It is hard for noble natures to think evil, to believe in ingratitude; only through rough experience do they learn the extent of human corruption; and even when there is nothing left them to learn in this kind, they rise to an indulgence which is the last degree of contempt.”
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