When a thought is too weak to be expressed simply, it should be rejected. Luc de Clapiers More Quotes by Luc de Clapiers More Quotes From Luc de Clapiers Mediocre men sometimes fear great office, and when they do not aim at it, or when they refuse it, all that is to be concluded is that they are aware of their mediocrity. Luc de Clapiers mediocrity office men It is good to be firm by temperament and pliant by reflection. Luc de Clapiers firm temperament reflection Necessity moderates more troubles than reason. Luc de Clapiers moderates trouble reason He who seeks fame by the practice of virtue asks only for what he deserves. Luc de Clapiers reputation virtue practice The common excuse for those bringing misfortune on others is that they desire their good. Luc de Clapiers tyrants desire war Children are taught to fear and obey; the avarice, pride, or timidity of parents teaches children economy, arrogance, or submission. They are also encouraged to be imitators, a course to which they are already only too much inclined. No one thinks of making them original, courageous, independent. Luc de Clapiers independent pride children We can love with all our hearts those in whom we recognize great faults. It would be impertinent to believe that perfection alone has the right to please us; sometimes our weaknesses attach us to each other as much as our virtues. Luc de Clapiers perfection heart believe Peace renders nations happier and men weaker. Luc de Clapiers nations men peace Commerce is the school of cheating. Luc de Clapiers commerce cheating school We often quarrel with the unfortunate to get rid of pitying them. Luc de Clapiers quarrels unfortunate Magnanimity will not consider the prudence of its motives. Luc de Clapiers prudence motive generosity All erroneous ideas would perish of their own accord if given clear expression. Luc de Clapiers given expression ideas The mind is the soul's eye, not its source of power. That lies in the heart, in other words, in the passions. Luc de Clapiers passion eye lying To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die. Luc de Clapiers success positive life Reason deceives us more often than does nature. Luc de Clapiers deceiving reason doe We must expect everything and fear everything from time and from men. Luc de Clapiers time men Vice foments war; it is virtue which actually fights. If there were no virtue, we would live in peace forever. Luc de Clapiers fighting forever war The young suffer less from their own errors than from the cautiousness of the old. Luc de Clapiers cautiousness errors suffering We ought never to be afraid to repeat an ancient truth, when we feel that we can make it more striking by a neater turn, or bring it alongside of another truth, which may make it clearer, and thereby accumulate evidence. It belongs to the inventive faculty to see clearly the relative state of things, and to be able to place them in connection; but the discoveries of ages gone by belong less to their first authors than to those who make them practically useful to the world. Luc de Clapiers connections age discovery It is a great sign of mediocrity to praise always moderately. Luc de Clapiers mediocrity praise
