"The most virtuous women have something within them, something that is never chaste"

In this quote, Honore de Balzac recommends that the most virtuous females have a specific quality that is not necessarily associated with chastity. This implies that there is more to being virtuous than just being pure and chaste. It could be translated as a commentary on the societal expectations placed on females to be chaste and pure, and how these expectations might not totally capture the intricacy and depth of a woman's character. Balzac's words likewise hint at the idea that real virtue originates from within, rather than conforming to external requirements. In general, this quote challenges standard notions of virtue and encourages a much deeper understanding of what it indicates to be a virtuous lady.