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False modesty is the most decent of all lies.

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
Hypocrisy
Decent
False
Lies
Lying
Modesty

More quotes by Nicolas Chamfort

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We justly consider women to be weaker than ourselves, and yet we are governed by them.
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Men's hearts and faces are always wide asunder women's are not only in close connection, but are mirror-like in the instant power of reflection.
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Most of those who make collections of verse or epigram are like men eating cherries or oysters: they choose out the best at first, and end by eating all.
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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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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
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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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The great always sell their society to the vanity of the little.
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If taking vitamins doesn't keep you healthy enough, try more laughter: The most wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed.
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Some things are easier to legalize than to legitimate.
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Every day I add to the list of things I refuse to discuss. The wiser the man, the longer the list.
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Man may aspire to virtue, but he cannot reasonably aspire to truth.
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Secrecy is best taught by starting with ourselves.
Nicolas Chamfort
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She commands who is blest with indifference.
Nicolas Chamfort
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If it wasn't for me, I'd do brilliantly.
Nicolas Chamfort
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We need to be just before we are generous, as we need shirts before ruffles.
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One must not hope to be more than one can be.
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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
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Education must have two foundations --morality as a support for virtue, prudence as a defense for self against the vices of others. By letting the balance incline to the side of morality, you only make dupes or martyrs by letting it incline to the other, you make calculating egoists.
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He who leaves the game wins it.
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A man should swallow a toad every morning to be sure of not meeting with anything more revolting in the day ahead.
Nicolas Chamfort