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...
deceiving lost charlatans
Hope is but a charlatan that ceases not to deceive us. For myself happiness only began when I had lost it.
would-be affair charming
Society would be a charming affair if we were only interested in one another.
vanity littles sells
The great always sell their society to the vanity of the little.
novelty
Change, change,--we all covet change.
slander
Slander is the balm of malignity.
flames smoke
Marriage follows on love as smoke on flame.
public-opinion opinion worst
Public opinion is the worst of all opinions.
merit deference esteem
Eminence without merit earns deference without esteem.
kindness heart people
People are governed with the head; kindness of heart is little use in chess.
scandal return movement
Scandal is an importunate wasp, against which we must make no movement unless we are quite sure that we can kill it; otherwise it will return to the attack more furious than ever.
turns remorse
Remorse turns us against ourselves.
time mistake character
Sometimes apparent resemblance of character will bring two men together and for a certain time unite them. But their mistake gradually becomes evident, and they are astonished to find themselves not only far apart, but even repelled, in some sort, at all their points of contact.
oysters firsts eating
Most anthologists of poetry or quotations are like those who eat cherries or oysters, first picking the best and ending by eating everything.
appetite composed dinners great society
Society is composed of two great classes those who have more dinners than appetite, and those who have more appetite than dinners.