Madame de Maintenon Quotes

A collection of quotes by Madame de Maintenon.

Madame de Maintenon, born Françoise d'Aubigné, was a prominent figure in French history during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. She was born on November 27, 1635, in Niort, France, and raised by her widowed mother following the death of her father. Françoise grew up in relative poverty until her mother's remarriage to the poet Scarron, which led her to Parisian literary circles.

In 1652, Françoise married Scarron, who was beset by illness, and she devoted herself to his care until his death in 1660. Subsequently, she became associated with the French royal court and caught the attention of King Louis XIV. They secretly married in 1683, with Françoise taking the title of Madame de Maintenon.

As Louis XIV's wife, Madame de Maintenon exercised considerable influence and acted as an adviser to the king. She played an active role in policy-making, particularly in matters related to education, religion, and charitable work. She notably established a religious institution for the education of impoverished noble girls known as Saint-Cyr.

Madame de Maintenon's influence and ambition made her both revered and resented at court. She outlived Louis XIV, who died in 1715, and withdrew from public life in the following years. She dedicated her remaining years to writing her memoirs and engaging in religious devotion. Madame de Maintenon passed away on April 15, 1719, leaving behind a complex legacy as one of the most influential women of her time.