In other words she was constant and true, without whims or caprice.  The Comte de Segur, in his work on “Women, their Condition and Influence in Society,” says:  “While Ninon de l’Enclos was fostering and patronizing genius, and giving it opportunities to expand, Madame de Sevigne was at the head of a cabal in opposition to genius, unless it was measured upon her own standard.  In her self-love she wrought against Racine and sought to diminish the literary luster of Flechier.  But with all her ability Madame de Sevigne possessed very little genius or tact, and her lack of discrimination is apparent in the fact that none of her proteges ever reached any distinction.  Moreover, her virtues must have been of an appalling character since they were not strong enough to save her husband and son from falling into the clutches of “That horrid woman,” referring to Ninon.

Ninon certainly understood men; she divined them at the first glance and provided for their bodily and intellectual wants.  If they were deemed worthy of her favors, she bestowed them freely, and out of one animal desire gratified, there were created a thousand intellectual aspirations.  She understood clearly that man can not be all animal or all spiritual, and that the attempt to divert nature from its duality of being was to wreck humanity and make of man neither fish, flesh nor fowl.  Her constant prayer in her younger days, for the truth of which Voltaire vouches, was: 

“Mon Dieu, faites de moi un honnete homme, et n’en faites jamais une honnete femme.” (My God, make me an honest man, but never an honest woman).

Count Segur, in his book already referred to, has this to say further concerning Ninon: 

“Ninon shone under the reign of Louis XIV like a graceful plant in its proper soil.  Splendor seemed to be her element.  That Ninon might appear in the sphere that became her, it was necessary that Turenne and Conde should sigh at her feet, that Voltaire should receive from her his first lessons, in a word, that in her illustrious cabinet, glory and genius should be seen sporting with love and the graces.”

Had it not been for the influence of Ninon de l’Enclos—­there are many who claim it as the truth—­the sombre tinge, the veil of gloominess and hypocritical austerity which surrounded Madame de Maintenon and her court, would have wrecked the intellects of the most illustrious and brightest men in France, in war, literature, science, and statesmanship.  Madame de Maintenon resisted that influence but the Rue des Tournelles strove against Saint Cyr.  The world fluctuated between these two systems established by women, both of them—­shall it be said—­courtesans?  The legality and morality of our modern common law marriages and the ease and frequency of trivial divorces forbid it.  Ninon prevailed, however, and not only governed hearts but souls.  The difference between the two courts was, the royal salon was thronged with women of the most infamous character who had nothing but their infamy to bestow, while the drawing rooms of Ninon de l’Enclos were crowded with men almost exclusively, and men of wit and genius.