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
The rich man despises those who flatter him too much, and hates those who do not flatter him at all.
A married man with a family will do anything for money.
The reputation of a man is like his shadow, gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when it follows.
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.
Speech was given to man to disguise his thoughts. [Fr., La parole a ete donnce a l'homme pour deguiser sa pensee.]
Only a man who has loved a woman of genius can appreciate what happiness there is in loving a fool.
The art of putting the right men in the right places is first in the science of government; but that of finding places for the discontented is the most difficult.
What clever man has ever needed to commit a crime? Crime is the last resort of political half-wits.
The art of statesmanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence.
Those who did not live during the years close to 1789 do not know the pleasure of living.
I found there a country with thirty-two religions and only one sauce.
A clever woman often compromises her husband; a stupid woman only compromises herself.
If you wish to be popular in society consent to be taught many things you already know.
Wherever there's trouble, look for a priest.