Luc de Clapiers
Luc de Clapiers
Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargueswas a minor French writer, a moralist. He died at age 31, in broken health, having published the year prior—anonymously—a collection of essays and aphorisms with the encouragement of Voltaire, his friend. He first received public notice under his own name in 1797, and from 1857 on, his aphorisms became popular. In the history of French literature, his significance lies chiefly in his friendship with Voltaire...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth6 August 1715
CountryFrance
Luc de Clapiers quotes about
Courage is adversity's lamp.
We can console ourselves for not having great talents as we console ourselves for not having great places. We can be above both in our hearts.
Hope animates the wise, and lures the presumptuous and indolent who repose inconsiderately on her promises.
As a house implies a builder, and a garment a weaver, and a door a carpenter, so does the existence of the Universe imply a Creator.
When an idea is not robust enough to stand expression in simple terms, it is a sign that it should be rejected.
To withdraw ourselves from the law of the strong, we have found ourselves obliged to submit to justice. Justice or might, we must choose between these two masters.
Every thought is new when an author expresses it in a manner peculiar to himself.
Hatred is keener than friendship, less keen than love.
Great men in teaching weak men to reflect have set them on the road to error.
Reason and emotion counsel and supplement each other. Whoever heeds only the one, and puts aside the other, recklessly deprives himself of a portion of the aid granted us for the regulation of our conduct.
Is it against justice or reason to love ourselves? And why is self-love always a vice?
Despair is the greatest of our errors.
Nothing but courage can guide life.
Some are born to invent, others to embellish; but the gilder attracts more attention than the architect.