Obtuseness is sometimes a virtue. Antoine Rivarol More Quotes by Antoine Rivarol More Quotes From Antoine Rivarol The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy. Antoine Rivarol politicalsteelpeople Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future. Antoine Rivarol fearlifepast It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit. Antoine Rivarol enchantmentfogadd The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or Marc Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marc Aurelius. Antoine Rivarol nerodemocracypeople Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way. Antoine Rivarol personsnineway Brave men do not boast nor bluster. Deeds, not words, speak for such. Antoine Rivarol deedsbraverymen To lose one's self in reverie, one must be either very happy, or very unhappy. Reverie is the child of extremes. Antoine Rivarol unhappyselfchildren The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it. Antoine Rivarol doeworrypeople Generally speaking, there is more wit than talent in the world. Society swarms with witty people who lack talent. Antoine Rivarol wittytalkingpeople Opinions, theories, and systems pass by turns over the grindstone of time, which at first gives them brilliancy and sharpness, but finally wears them out. Antoine Rivarol timegivingfirsts It is easy for men to write and talk like philosophers, but to act with wisdom, there is the rub! Antoine Rivarol writingcharactermen Memory always obeys the commands of the heart. Antoine Rivarol commandheartmemories Ideas are a capital that bears interest only in the hands of talent. Antoine Rivarol bearshandsideas The modest man has everything to gain, and the arrogant man everything to lose; for modesty has always to deal with generosity, and arrogance with envy. Antoine Rivarol envygenerositymen A fool may have his coat embroidered with gold, but it is a fool's coat still. Antoine Rivarol coatsgoldmay Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls. Antoine Rivarol claysoulgold That which happens to the soil when it ceases to be cultivated by the social man happens to man himself when he foolishly forsakes society for solitude; the brambles grow up in his desert heart. Antoine Rivarol growing-upheartmen Rumor, once started, rushes on like a river, until it mingles with, and is lost in the sea. Antoine Rivarol rumorsearivers What isn’t clear, isn’t French. Antoine Rivarol clear Youth is not the era of wisdom; let us therefore have due consideration. Antoine Rivarol considerationerasyouth
