Men's maxims reveal their hearts.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues
Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (6 August 1715 – 28 May 1747) was a French writer and moralist. He died at the age of 31, in poverty, and in his lifetime published only one book, anonymously.
A somewhat lofty soul loves to struggle against an evil fate, [...] and the fight pleases it even without the victory.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
What is presumption in the weak, is elevation in the strong.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The most ridiculous and boldest hopes have often been the cause of extraordinary successes.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Despair [...] is the greatest of our errors.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Even misfortune has its charms in great extremities; for this opposition of fortune elevates a courageous spirit, and makes it gather all its forces which it was not using.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
It is better to derogate from one's station than from one's genius.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
All good maxims are in the world, [...] one only has to apply them; but that is very difficult.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
We enjoy only people; the rest is nothing.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
To have a great deal of common sense, one must be made in such a way that reason dominates feeling, and experience dominates reasoning.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Servitude [...] debases men [...] to the point of making itself loved.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The first days of spring have less grace than the nascent virtue of a young man.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The fires of dawn are not as sweet as the first glances of glory.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Vice does not always exclude virtue in the same subject; above all, one must not easily believe that what is still lovable is vicious.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Delicacy comes essentially from the soul.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Clarity adorns profound thoughts.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Obscurity is the kingdom of error.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Courage has more resources against misfortunes than reason.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Servitude debases men to the point of making itself loved.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
One cannot be just if one is not humane.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
No one wants to be pitied for their mistakes.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Reason deceives us more often than nature.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Great thoughts come from the heart.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
No one is more prone to mistakes than those who act only upon reflection.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
To accomplish great things, one must live as if one were never to die.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
The thought of death deceives us, for it makes us forget to live.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
The advice of old age enlightens without warming, like the winter sun.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Patience is the art of hoping.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
Our actions are neither as good nor as vicious as our intentions.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
The art of pleasing is the art of deceiving.
1747
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1747)
One must suffer the enlightened and impartial criticisms made of the most estimable men or works [...].
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
True politicians know men better than those who make a profession of philosophy; I mean that they are truer philosophers.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
It is sometimes more difficult to govern a single man than a great people.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
What we honor with the name of peace is properly but a short truce, by which the weaker party renounces its claims [...].
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Manners spoil more easily than they are corrected.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Solitude is to the mind what diet is to the body: deadly when it is too long, although necessary.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
It often happens that we are esteemed in proportion as we esteem ourselves.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Nothing lasts but the truth.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Nothing great admits of mediocrity.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
All men are born sincere, and die deceivers.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Hope makes more dupes than skill.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Invention is the sole proof of genius.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The sole defect, in a sense, of all works, is that they are too long.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Clarity is the good faith of philosophers.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Despair is the greatest of our errors.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Where vice reigns so imperiously, it cannot be overstated, let us not believe that peace of mind and pleasure can dwell.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The same infirmities, the same weaknesses, the same fragility, are to be noted in all stations; the same subjection to death, which puts such a short and formidable end to human greatness.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Oh, nothingness of human greatness! Oh, fragility of life! Are these the vain advantages for which, ever biased, we consume ourselves with toil?
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
[...] the poor and the rich equally unhappy with their station, and consequently equally unjust and blind, for they envy one another, and believe each other to be happy.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
What profusion! what audacity! what insane splendor! Meanwhile the poor, hungry, naked, sick, [...] languishes before your eyes, covered in disgrace [...].
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Nothing characterizes a bad reign like flattery carried to excess [...].
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Wisdom knows how to effortlessly bring together all conditions and all ages [...].
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
However, who can be sure of what goes on in the hearts of kings, and of what determines their will?
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Softness had, in the course of a long peace, weakened the nation's courage, pleasures had corrupted it, [...] and adversity alone could reawaken the ancient virtue.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The will is but a desire that is not fought, that has its object in its power, or at least believes it has [...].
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Agree [...] that we often act according to what we want, but that we never want except according to what we feel, or according to what we think.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
An imperfect reason is far above an absence of reason.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
What is beautiful and great but that which nature has made? What is deformed and weak but that which it has produced in its harshness?
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
Justice is the feeling of a soul in love with order, and which is content with its own.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
The more necessary vice is, the more it is vice; nothing in the world is more vicious than that which, by its nature, is incapable of being good.
1746
Source: The Works of Vauvenargues
All good maxims are in the world, [...] one only has to apply them; but that is very difficult.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Few people have a mind deep enough to reconcile so many truths, and to strip them of the errors with which they are mixed.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Some fall asleep on the authority of prejudices and even admit contradictory ones, for want of going to the point where they contradict each other.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Others spend their lives doubting and arguing, without bothering about the subjects of their disputes and their doubts.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
There is no indifferent step in life; if we lead it without the knowledge of truth, what an abyss!
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Who knows what he should esteem, or despise, or hate, if he does not know what is good or what is evil?
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Where will I find these connections, if not in the study of myself and the knowledge of men [...]?
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
We only enjoy other people; the rest is nothing.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
What is there that one cannot find in the knowledge of man?
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
The duties of men gathered in society, that is morality; the reciprocal interests of these societies, that is politics; their obligations towards God, that is religion.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Those who are capable of inventing are rare; those who do not invent are in greater number, and, consequently, the stronger [...].
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
We apply ourselves to chemistry, to astronomy, [...] as if we had nothing more important to know.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
Hurt by the too manifest contradictions of our opinions, I sought through so many errors the abandoned paths of the true.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind
There are neither talents, nor wisdom, nor solid pleasures in the heart of error.
1746
Source: Introduction to the Understanding of the Human Mind