Quote

How many fools does it take to make up a public?

Nicolas Chamfort

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Nicolas Chamfort
Age: 53 †
Born: 1741
Born: April 6
Died: 1794
Died: April 13
Journalist
Philosopher
Playwright
Poet
Politician
Writer
Clarmont-Ferrand
Public
Doe
Take
Many
Make
Fools
Fool

More quotes by Nicolas Chamfort

Image
Real worth requires no interpreter: its everyday deeds form its emblem.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
The philosopher who would fain extinguish his passions resembles the chemist who would like to let his furnace go out.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
All passions are exaggerated, otherwise they would not be passions.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
There is as much expression in the feet as in the hands.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
It is said of a lonely man that he does not appreciate the life of society. This is like saying he hates hiking because he dislikes walking in thick forest on a dark night.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
He who leaves the game wins it.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
Nearly all men are slaves for the same reason that the Spartans assigned for the servitude of the Persians -- lack of power to pronounce the syllable, No. To be able to utter that word and live alone, are the only means to preserve one's freedom and one's character.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
To enjoy and give enjoyment, without injury to yourself or others this is true morality.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
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.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
Most benefactors are like unskillful generals who take the city and leave the citadel intact.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
Egotism is the tongue of vanity.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
Intelligent people make many mistakes because they cannot believe the world is really as foolish as it is.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
We need to be just before we are generous, as we need shirts before ruffles.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
There aren't many benefactors who don't say, like Satan: All these things will I give you if you bow down and worship me.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
Every day I add to the list of things I refuse to discuss. The wiser the man, the longer the list.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
The new friends whom we make after attaining a certain age and by whom we would fain replace those whom we have lost, are to our old friends what glass eyes, false teeth and wooden legs are to real eyes, natrual teeth and legs of flesh and bone.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
The person is always happy who is in the presence of something they cannot know in full. A person as advanced far in the study of morals who has mastered the difference between pride and vanity.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
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
Image
There are two things that one must get used to or one will find life unendurable: the damages of time and injustices of men.
Nicolas Chamfort
Image
A man should swallow a toad every morning to be sure of not meeting with anything more revolting in the day ahead.
Nicolas Chamfort