Antoine Rivarol Quotes
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.
Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future.
Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way.
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.
To lose one's self in reverie, one must be either very happy, or very unhappy. Reverie is the child of extremes.
Generally speaking, there is more wit than talent in the world. Society swarms with witty people who lack talent.
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.
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.
Familiarity is the root of the closest friendships, as well as the interests hatreds.
It is easy for men to write and talk like philosophers, but to act with wisdom, there is the rub!
Rumor, once started, rushes on like a river, until it mingles with, and is lost in the sea.
The methods that help a man acquire a fortune are the very ones that keep him from enjoying it.
If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in opulence. When fortune exempts us from labor, nature overwhelms us with time.
The despotism of will in ideas is styled plan, project, character, obstinacy; its despotism in desires is called passion.
There are some women who are flirts upon principle; they consider it their duty to make themselves as pleasing as possible to every one.
The subtle sauce of malice is often indulged in by maidens of uncertain age, over their tea.
The mischief of children is seldom actuated by malice; that of grown-up people always is.
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.
Wrong is wrong; no fallacy can hide it, no subterfuge cover it so shrewdly but that the All-Seeing One will discover and punish it.
It is, no doubt, an immense advantage to have done nothing, but one should not abuse it.
The woman who too easily and ardently yielded her devotion will find that its vitality, like a bright fire, soon consumes itself.
Extremes produce reaction. Beware that our boasted civilization does not lapse into barbarism.