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Quote by Luc de Clapiers

Work

La Bruyère and Vauvenargues: Selections from the Characters, Reflexions and Maxims

The volume offers readers a curated selection of insights and wisdom from the works of Jean de La Bruyère and Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Vauvenargues. These selections are drawn from their respective collections of characters, reflections, and maxims, showcasing their philosophical and moral perspectives. more

Author

Luc de Clapiers
Luc de Clapiers

Luc de Clapiers, known by his pen name Voltaire, was a prominent French writer, philosopher, historian, and an influential figure of the Enlightenment, born on August 6, 1715, and died on May 28, 1747. His works, characterized by satire and humor, have had a profound impact on literature and thought. more

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“The maxim that men are not to be praised before their death was invented by envy and too lightly adopted by philosophers. I, on the contrary, maintain that they ought to be praised in their lifetime if they merit it; but jealousy and calumny, roused against their virtue or their talent, labour to degrade them if any one ventures to bear testimony to them. It is unjust criticism that they should fear to hazard, not sincere praise.”

“If children had teachers for judgment and eloquence just as they have for languages, if their memory was exercised less than their energy or their natural genius, if instead of deadening their vivacity of mind we tried to elevate the free scope and impulse of their souls, what might not result from a fine disposition? As it is, we forget that courage, or love of truth and glory are the virtues that matter most in youth; and our one endeavour is to subdue our children's spirits, in order to teach them that dependence and suppleness are the first laws of success in life.”

“For almost every character I've played in the 43 years I've been working as a professional actor, I've found parts of myself. We are all bipolar in the tiniest essence of what it is. We are all multiple personalities, in a sense, and to be healthy mentally, I think, learning what those multiple personalities are and inviting them in your life is really important.”

“Being a liberal is the best thing on earth you can be. You are welcoming to everyone when you're a liberal. You do not have a small mind... I'm total, total, total liberal and proud of it. And I think it's outrageous to say "The L word". I mean, excuse me. They should be damn lucky that they were liberals here. Liberals gave more to the population of the United States than any other group.”

“You had to stay awake married to him [Humphrey Bogart]. Every time I thought I could relax and do everything I wanted, he'd buck. There was no way to predict his reactions, no matter how well I knew him. As he'd said before our wedding, he expected to be happily married and stay that way, but he never expected to settle down. He liked keeping people off balance. He was good for me -- I could never be quite sure what he would do.”