Here, we see the King Leopold III with his youngest daughter, Princess Marie-Esmeralda. Leopold and Esmeralda enjoyed an especially close relationship; it reminds me of Marie-José's strong bond with her father, King Albert I. In her memoirs, Léopold III, mon père, Esmeralda relates that she once gave Marcel Proust's famous questionnaire to her father. Here are some of his answers. They provide interesting insights into Leopold's personality, desires, and ideals.
Quel est selon vous le comble de la misère?L'amour de l'argent.Quel est votre idéal de bonheur terrestre?Ménage et famille.Votre vertu préférée?La droitureVotre couleur préférée?Le jaune.Votre fleur préférée?Le lilasVos héroïnes dans la vie réelle?MamanVos héroïnes dans l'Histoire?La grande CatherineVos prénoms favoris?Lilian, Esmeralda, Daphné, AlexandreVos poètes préférés?Ceux de l'époque romantique.Les caractères historiques que vous méprisez le plus?Ceux qui ont voulu se faire passer pour autre chose que ce qu'ils étaient...Le trait principal de votre caractère?La fidélité en amitiéLa réforme que vous admirez le plus?Le début de socialismeLe fait militaire que vous admirez le plus?La campagne d'ItalieCe que vous detestez le plus?A part l'ananas, le mensonge et l'hypocrisieComment aimeriez-vous mourir?De mort violente, le plus tard possibleEtat present de votre esprit?DésabuséVotre principal défaut?La paresseVotre principale qualité?L'honnêtetéVotre occupation favorite?Les voyages en dehors des chemins battusVotre devise?Vivons cachés pour vivre heureux!***What is, in your eyes, the depth of misery?The love of moneyWhat is your ideal of earthly happiness?Marriage and familyYour favorite virtue?IntegrityYour favorite color?YellowYour favorite flower?The lilacYour heroines in real life?My motherYour heroines in history?Catherine the GreatYour favorite first names?Lilian, Esmeralda, Daphne, Alexander (1)Your favorite poets?The RomanticsThe historical characters you despise the most?Those who tried to appear other than they were...Your chief character trait?Fidelity in friendshipThe reform you admire the most?The beginning of socialismThe military exploit you admire the most?The Italian campaignWhat do you hate most?Aside from pineapple, lying and hypocrisyHow would you like to die?By violence, as late as possibleYour present state of mind?DisillusionedYour chief fault?LazinessYour chief quality?HonestyYour favorite occupation?Traveling off the beaten pathYour motto?Live hidden to live happily!
(1) the names of his second wife and their children
2 comments:
What a fascinating motto! I also like that honesty was his chief quality.
As to your question on my blog regarding linkwithin, I do like how it backtracks to other posts but it appears to work randomly. It does not always pick the post that makes the most sense. And each time I log in, it seems to chose different links. I also had some recent "security" issues on my blog, but I'm not sure whether or not that was related or not. I had to change my Google password (something that should probably be done regularly).
Thanks for the information and tips... maybe I'll stay away from new widgets for now.
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