Top 211 Quotes & Sayings by Luc de Clapiers - Page 3

There are men who are happy without knowing it.

Hope deceives more men than cunning does.

If children had teachers for judgment and eloquence just as they have for languages, if their memory was exercised less than their energy or their natural genius, if instead of deadening their vivacity of mind we tried to elevate the free scope and impulse of their souls, what might not result from a fine disposition? As it is, we forget that courage, or love of truth and glory are the virtues that matter most in youth; and our one endeavour is to subdue our children's spirits, in order to teach them that dependence and suppleness are the first laws of success in life.

Necessity moderates more troubles than reason.

Obscurity is the kingdom of error.

You can purchase the mind of Pascal for a crown. Pleasures even cheaper are sold to those who give themselves up to them. It is only luxuries and objects of caprice that are rare and difficult to obtain; unfortunately they are the only things that touch the curiosity and taste of ordinary men.

The tempests of youth are mingled with days of brilliant sunshine.

Men despise great projects when they do not feel themselves capable of great successes.

A man who love only himself and his pleasures is vain, presumptuous, and wicked even from principle.

Our opinion of others is not so variable as our opinion of ourselves.

If it is true that vice can never be done away with, the science of government consists of making it contribute to the public good.

The thought of death deceives us; for it causes us to neglect to live.

We are not greatly pleased that our friends should respect our good qualities if they venture to perceive our faults.

When an idea is not robust enough to stand expression in simple terms, it is a sign that it should be rejected.

I do not approve the maxim which desires a man to know a little of everything. Superficial knowledge, knowledge without principles, is almost always useless and sometimes harmful knowledge.

Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that is to be concluded is that they are aware of their mediocrity.

Every thought is new when an author expresses it in a manner peculiar to himself.

Hatred is keener than friendship, less keen than love.

We must expect everything and fear everything from time and from men.

As soon as an opinion becomes common it is sufficient reason for men to abandon it and to uphold the opposite opinion until that in its turn grows old, and they require to distinguish themselves by other things. Thus if they attain their goal in some art or science, we must expect them soon to cast it aside to acquire some fresh fame, and this is partly the reason why the most splendid ages degenerate so quickly, and, scarcely emerged from barbarism, plunge into it again.

Generosity gives assistance, rather than advice.

Great men in teaching weak men to reflect have set them on the road to error.

Peace renders nations happier and men weaker.

Ignorance is not lack of intelligence, nor knowledge a proof of genius.

It is unjust to exact that men shall do out of deference to our advice what they have no desire to do for themselves.

Persevere in the fight, struggle on, do not let go, think magnanimously of man and life, for man is good and life is affluent and fruitful.

There does not exist a man sufficiently intelligent never to be tiresome.

We are less hurt by the contempt of fools than by the lukewarm approval of men of intelligence.

The falsest of all philosophies is that which, under the pretext of delivering men from the embarrassment of their passions, counsels idleness and the abandonment and neglect of themselves.

The maxim that men are not to be praised before their death was invented by envy and too lightly adopted by philosophers.

No one likes to be pitied for his faults.

With kings, nations, and private individuals, the strongest assume to themselves rights over the weakest, and the same rule is followed by animals, by matter, by the elements, so that everything is performed in the universe by violence. And that order which we blame with some appearance of justice is the most universal, most absolute, most unchangeable, and most ancient law of nature.

The greatest evil that fortune can bring to men is to endow them with feeble resources and yet to make them ambitious.

Neither the gifts nor the blows of fortune equal those of nature.

We can console ourselves for not having great talents as we console ourselves for not having great places. We can be above both in our hearts.

The character of false wit is that of appearing to depend only upon reason.

Wit does not take the place of knowledge.

Those who fear men like laws.

Hope animates the wise, and lures the presumptuous and indolent who repose inconsiderately on her promises.

It is easy to criticize an author, but difficult to appreciate him.

Clearness marks the sincerity of philosophers.

Necessity relieves us from the embarrassment of choice.

Despair puts the last touch not only to our misery but also to our weakness.

Consciousness of our strength increases it.

The counsels of old age give light without heat, like the sun in winter.

He who seeks fame by the practice of virtue asks only for what he deserves.

The common excuse for those bringing misfortune on others is that they desire their good.

It is good to be firm by temperament and pliant by reflection.

Prosperity makes some friends and many enemies.

The lazy are always wanting to do something.

It is sometimes easier to form a party than to attain by degrees the head of a party already formed.

Sometimes a lengthened period of prosperity melts away in a moment; just as the heat of summer flies before a day of tempest.

And where, on earth, dwell hope and truth? In childhood's uncorrupted heart; Alas! too soon to guileless youth The world doth its dark code impart!

In order to protect himself from force, man was obliged to submit to justice. Justice or force: he was compelled to choose between the two masters, so little are we made to be independent.

Some authors regard morality in the same light as we regard modern architecture. Convenience is the first thing to be looked for.

All erroneous ideas would perish of their own accord if given clear expression.

The mind reaches great heights only by spurts.

Simple truths are a relief from grand speculations.

We can love with all our hearts those in whom we recognize great faults. It would be impertinent to believe that perfection alone has the right to please us; sometimes our weaknesses attach us to each other as much as our virtues.

We don't have enough time to premeditate our actions.