Nicolas Chamfort Quotes

Public opinion has been the worst of opinions for centuries.

In big things, men show themselves as they want to be seen. In small things, as they are.

Often love, stormy commerce, ends in bankruptcy.

Love is more pleasing than marriage, because novels are more pleasing than history.

Women give to friendship only what they cut from love.

Love is like contagious diseases, the more they are feared, the more easily they are acquired.

In the world, there are three kinds of friends: those who love you, those who take care of you, and those who hate you.

Physical scourges and the calamities of human nature made society necessary. Society was added to the disasters of nature. The inconveniences of society made Government necessary, and Government was added to the disasters of society. This is the history of human nature.

It is easier to legalize certain things than to legitimize them.

Almost all men are slaves, for the reason that the Spartans gave for the servitude of the Persians, for not knowing how to pronounce the syllable 'no'.

When one wants to be pleasant in society, it is necessary to resolve to allow many things that we know to be taught to us by people who are unaware.

Three quarters of madness are nothing but follies.