Quote

A liar is a man who does now know how to deceive, a flatterer one who only deceives fools: he who knows how to make skilful use of the truth, and understands its eloquence, can alone pride himself in cleverness.

Luc de Clapiers

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Luc de Clapiers
Age: 31 †
Born: 1715
Born: August 6
Died: 1747
Died: May 28
Essayist
Military Personnel
Philosopher
Writer
Aix
Lying
Eloquence
Use
Deceiving
Truth
Liars
Skilful
Doe
Understands
Deceives
Make
Fools
Flatterer
Men
Pride
Cleverness
Fool
Deceive
Alone
Liar

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The mind is the soul's eye, not its source of power. That lies in the heart, in other words, in the passions.
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The character of false wit is that of appearing to depend only upon reason.
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If a man is endowed with a noble and courageous soul, if he is painstaking, proud, ambitious, without meanness, of a profound a deep-seated intelligence, I dare assert that he lacks nothing to be neglected by the great and men in high office, who fear, more than other men, those whom they cannot dominate.
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Men dissimulate their dearest, most constant, and most virtuous inclination from weakness and a fear of being condemned.
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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.
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If passion sometimes counsels greater boldness than does reflection, it gives more strength to execute it.
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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.
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Consciousness of our powers augments them.
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Servitude degrades people to such a point that they come to like it.
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Few men have depth enough to hear or tell the truth.
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All that causes one man to differ from another is a very slight thing. What is it that is the origin of beauty or ugliness, health or weakness, ability or stupidity? A slight difference in the organs, a little more or a little less bile. Yet this more or less is of infinite importance to men and when they think otherwise they are mistaken.
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If anyone accuses me of contradicting myself, I shall reply I have been wrong once or more often, however I do not aspire to be always wrong.
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It is unjust to exact that men shall do out of deference to our advice what they have no desire to do for themselves.
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The common excuse for those bringing misfortune on others is that they desire their good.
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Excessive distrust is not less hurtfJul than its opposite. Most men become useless to him who is unwilling to risk being deceived.
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It is no great advantage to possess a quick wit, if it is not correct the perfection is not speed but uniformity.
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Most people grow old within a small circle of ideas, which they have not discovered for themselves. There are perhaps less wrong-minded people than thoughtless.
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Habit is everything, even in love.
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There is nothing that fear and hope does not permit men to do.
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As it is natural to believe many things without proof, so, despite all proof, is it natural to disbelieve others.
Luc de Clapiers