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
Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.
The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one's opportunities and make the most of one's resources.
All erroneous ideas would perish of their own accord if given clear expression.
The counsels of old age give light without heat, like the sun in winter.
Lazy people always intend to start doing something.
The counsels of the old, like the winter sun, shine, but give no heat.
Habit is everything, even in love.
Most people grow old within a small circle of ideas, which they have not discovered for themselves. There are perhaps less wrong-minded people than thoughtless.
The conscience of the dying belies their life.
Few people are modest enough to be estimated at their true worth.
Everyone is born sincere and dies deceivers.
To possess taste, one must have some soul.
Hope deceives more men than cunning does.
To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.