Share
×
Inspirational Quotes
Authors
Professions
Topics
Tags
Quote
Most benefactors are like unskillful generals who take the city and leave the citadel intact.
Nicolas Chamfort
Share
Change background
T
T
T
Change font
Original
TAGS & TOPICS
Nicolas Chamfort
Age: 53 †
Born: 1741
Born: April 6
Died: 1794
Died: April 13
Journalist
Philosopher
Playwright
Poet
Politician
Writer
Clarmont-Ferrand
Like
Citadels
Benefactors
Generals
Intact
City
Leave
Cities
Unskillful
Take
Citadel
More quotes by Nicolas Chamfort
False modesty is the most decent of all lies.
Nicolas Chamfort
The best philosophical attitude to adopt towards the world is a union of the sarcasm of gaiety with the indulgence of contempt.
Nicolas Chamfort
In the fine arts, as in many other things, we know well only what we have not learned.
Nicolas Chamfort
Marriage follows on love as smoke on flame.
Nicolas Chamfort
There is no history worthy attention save that of free nations the history of nations under the sway of despotism is no more than a collection of anecdotes.
Nicolas Chamfort
Hope is but a charlatan that ceases not to deceive us. For myself happiness only began when I had lost it.
Nicolas Chamfort
Intelligent people make many mistakes because they cannot believe the world is really as foolish as it is.
Nicolas Chamfort
Society would be a charming affair if we were only interested in one another.
Nicolas Chamfort
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.
Nicolas Chamfort
All passions exaggerate and they are passions only because they do exaggerate.
Nicolas Chamfort
There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.
Nicolas Chamfort
The art of the parenthesis is one of the greatest secrets of eloquence in Society
Nicolas Chamfort
Egotism is the tongue of vanity.
Nicolas Chamfort
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
If it wasn't for me, I'd do brilliantly.
Nicolas Chamfort
Do you think that revolutions are made with rose water?
Nicolas Chamfort
It is with happiness as with watches: the less complicated, the less easily deranged.
Nicolas Chamfort
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.
Nicolas Chamfort
In living and in seeing other men, the heart must break or become as bronze.
Nicolas Chamfort
Secrecy is best taught by starting with ourselves.
Nicolas Chamfort
