Chamfort
Chamfort
Sébastien-Roch Nicolas, also known as Chamfort, was a French writer, best known for his witty epigrams and aphorisms. He was secretary to Louis XVI's sister, and of the Jacobin club...
art expression obscure
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.
nicknames chance providence
Chance is a nickname for Providence.
education self two
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.
feet expression hands
There is as much expression in the feet as in the hands.
men matter littles
In great matters, men behave as they are expected to; in little ones, as they would naturally
names doubt chance
Someone described Providence as the baptismal name of chance; no doubt some pious person will retort that chance is the nickname of Providence.
funny hilarious laughter
The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless.
brother my-brother
Be my brother or I will kill you.
love husband passion
When a man and a woman have an overwhelming passion for each other, it seems to me, in spite of such obstacles dividing them as parents or husband, that they belong to each other in the name of Nature, and are lovers by Divine right, in spite of human convention or the laws.
real everyday deeds
Real worth requires no interpreter: its everyday deeds form its emblem.
humor independent cry
Nature never said to me: Do not be poor; still less did she say: Be rich; her cry to me was always: Be independent.
opportunity doors life-opportunity
Do not suppose opportunity will knock twice at your door.
wise wisdom men
There are more fools than wise men, and even in a wise man there is more folly than wisdom.
stupid reign public-opinion
Public opinion reigns in society because stupidity reigns among the stupid.