Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgordʁɑ̃ peʁiɡɔʁ]; 1754–1838), prince de Bénévent, then prince de Talleyrand, was a French bishop, politician and diplomat. After theology studies, he became in 1780 Agent-General of the Clergy and represented the Catholic Church to the French Crown. He worked at the highest levels of successive French governments, most commonly as foreign minister or in some other diplomatic capacity. His career spanned the regimes of Louis XVI, the years of the French Revolution, Napoleon, Louis XVIII, and Louis-Philippe...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionDiplomat
Date of Birth2 February 1754
CountryFrance
I know where there is more wisdom than is found in Napoleon, Voltaire, or all the ministers present and to come - in public opinion.
The bold defiance of a woman is the certain sign of her shame, - when she has once ceased to blush, it is because she has too much to blush for.
Nothing succeeds so well as success.
To succeed in the world, it is much more necessary to possess the penetration to discern who is a fool, than to discover who is a clever man.
Love is a reality which is born in the fairy region of romance.
She is such a good friend that she would throw all her acquaintances into the water for the pleasure of fishing them out again.
What I have been taught, I have forgotten; what I know, I have guessed.
In a novel, the author gives the leading character intelligence and distinction. Fate goes to less trouble: mediocrities play a part in great events simply from happening to be there.
An important art of politicians is to find new names for institutions which under old names have become odious to the public.
Regimes may fall and fail, but I do not.
Mistrust first impulses; they are nearly always good.
War is much too serious a thing to be left to military men.
Never speak ill of yourself, your friends will always say enough on that subject.
Whoever did not live in the years neighboring 1789 does not know what the pleasure of living means. [Fr., Qui n'a pas vecu dans les annees voisines de 1789 ne sait pas ce que c'est le palisir de vivre.]