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The success of many books is due to the affinity between the mediocrity of the author's ideas and those of the public.

Nicolas Chamfort

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Nicolas Chamfort
Age: 53 †
Born: 1741
Born: April 6
Died: 1794
Died: April 13
Journalist
Philosopher
Playwright
Poet
Politician
Writer
Clarmont-Ferrand
Books
Success
History
Affinity
Ideas
Mediocrity
Book
Cynical
Many
Author
Dues
Public

More quotes by Nicolas Chamfort

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The art of the parenthesis is one of the greatest secrets of eloquence in Society
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In the library of the world men have hitherto been ranged according to the form, and the binding the time is coming when they will take rank and order according to their contents and intrinsic merits.
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An author is often obscure to the reader because they proceed from the thought to expression than like the reader from the expression to the thought.
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All passions exaggerate and they are passions only because they do exaggerate.
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Intelligent people make many mistakes because they cannot believe the world is really as foolish as it is.
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Women of the world crave excitement.
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There is as much expression in the feet as in the hands.
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Most anthologists of poetry or quotations are like those who eat cherries or oysters, first picking the best and ending by eating everything.
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Wrinkles and ill-nature together made a woman hideous.
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There are two things that one must get used to or one will find life unendurable: the damages of time and injustices of men.
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Spero Speroni explains admirably how an author who writes very clearly for himself is often obscure to his readers. It is, he says, because the author proceeds from the thought to the expression, and the reader from the expression to the thought.
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Most benefactors are like unskillful generals who take the city and leave the citadel intact.
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A woman is like your shadow follow her, she flies fly from her, she follows.
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Men whose only concern is other people's opinion of them are like actors who put on a poor performance to win the applause of people of poor taste some of them would be capable of good acting in front of a good audience. A decent man plays his part to the best of his ability, regardless of the taste of the gallery.
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He who disguises tyranny, protection, or even benefits under the air and name of friendship reminds me of the guilty priest who poisoned the sacramental bread.
Nicolas Chamfort
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We justly consider women to be weaker than ourselves, and yet we are governed by them.
Nicolas Chamfort
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Public opinion reigns in society because stupidity reigns amongst the stupid.
Nicolas Chamfort
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The threat of a neglected cold is for doctors what the threat of purgatory is for priests-a gold mine.
Nicolas Chamfort
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To enjoy and give enjoyment, without injury to yourself or others this is true morality.
Nicolas Chamfort
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Do not suppose opportunity will knock twice at your door.
Nicolas Chamfort