What was Stendhal's personal philosophy of Beylisme?

Stendhal’s personal philosophy, which he termed "Beylisme" (derived from his real family name, Beyle), was centered on the pursuit of happiness through a delicate balance of opposing forces. It combined enthusiasm with rational skepticism, and lucidity with a willful surrender to lyric emotions.1

At its core, Beylisme emphasized the cultivation of a private sensibility. Because Stendhal lived in a society he often found conformist and oppressive, his philosophy also stressed the importance of developing the art of hiding and protecting that inner self from the outside world.1

This philosophy reflected Stendhal’s broader intellectual character: he was a thinker who attempted to organize his experiences into a rational system while remaining acutely aware that the demands of emotion and passion would often undermine any such structure. Ultimately, Beylisme served as a framework for navigating the conflict between the individual’s inner life—filled with dreams and longings—and the demands of a materialistic or restrictive society.21