She remains in educational affairs the greatest woman of the seventeenth century, if not of all her countrywomen.  M. Faguet says:  “This widow of Scarron, who was nearly Queen of France, was born minister of public instruction.”  She powerfully upheld the cause of morality, was a liberal patroness of education and learning, and all aspiring geniuses were encouraged and financially aided by her.  It was she who impressed upon Louis XIV. the truth of the existence of a God to whom he was accountable for his acts—­a teaching which contributed no little to the general purification of morals at court.

The writings of Mme. de Maintenon occupy a very high place in the history of French literature; in fact, her letters have often been compared with those of Mme. de Sevigne, although, unlike the latter, she never wrote merely to please, but to instruct, to convert, and to console.  In her works there was no pretension to literary style; they were sermons on morals, characterized by discretion and simplicity, dignity and persuasiveness, seriousness and earnestness; Napoleon placed her letters above those of Mme. de Sevigne.  M. Saint-Amand says of her writings:  “More reflection than vivacity, more wisdom than passion, more gravity than charm, more authority than grace, more solidity than brilliancy—­such are the characteristics of a correspondence which might justify the expression, the style is the woman.”

He gives, also, the following discriminating comparison between the two writers:  “Enjoyment, Gallic animation, good-tempered gayety, fall to the lot of Mme. de Sevigne; what marks Mme. de Maintenon is experience, reason, profundity.  The one laughs from ear to ear—­the other barely smiles.  The one has pleasant illusions about everything, admiration which borders on naivete, ecstasies when in the presence of the royal sun:  the other never permits herself to be fascinated by either the king or the court, by men, women, or things.  She has seen human grandeur too close at hand not to understand its nothingness, and her conclusions bear the imprint of a profound sadness.  At times Mme. de Sevigne, also, has attacks of melancholy, but the cloud passes quickly and she is again in the sunshine.  Gayety—­frank, communicative, radiant gayety—­is the basis of the character of this woman who is more witty, seductive, and amusing than is any other.  Mme. de Sevigne shines by imagination—­Mme. de Maintenon by judgment.  The one permits herself to be dazzled, intoxicated—­the other always preserves her indifference.  The one exaggerates the splendors of the court—­the other sees them as they are.  The one is more of a woman—­the other more of a saint.”