I just a couple of days ago reclaimed a collection of 300 maxims I selected and posted on Gab back in 2016, about 200 of which were from La Rochefoucauld, most of the rest from Mencken, a few from Karl Krauss. The latter I was introduced to by Jon Winokur's "Portable Curmudgeon" quotation books, which I recommend, as well as his "Zen to Go". La Rochefoucauld is in a class by himself, though, as an author of maxims. It is easy to read too many at one sitting, better to meditate on them singly or small, related bunches.
Reading up on the Rochefoucauld family, they are one of the oldest names, barons since the late 900s; there is still a Duc de La Rochefoucauld, I believe the 15th, Francois XIX, as well as cadet branches with other titles.
Those really got around -- I can recall hearing or reading all of them in paraphrased form at one time or another. I wonder, however, if La Rochefoucald was the ultimate source or an avid collector.
What a cynical cunt he was...
A facile maxim of mine, off the top of my head:
'Cynicism is the armour of the sensitive man'.
Ah, yes, that’s a good one!
Another reason I like your Stack NFR, the chances of me picking up some obscure 17th century French essayist remain extremely low!
Marcus Aurelius is hard to beat for maxims IMO (From Meditations)
“The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”
Thank you for taking the time to assemble this interesting, amusing, relevant, timeless list of maxims!
I just a couple of days ago reclaimed a collection of 300 maxims I selected and posted on Gab back in 2016, about 200 of which were from La Rochefoucauld, most of the rest from Mencken, a few from Karl Krauss. The latter I was introduced to by Jon Winokur's "Portable Curmudgeon" quotation books, which I recommend, as well as his "Zen to Go". La Rochefoucauld is in a class by himself, though, as an author of maxims. It is easy to read too many at one sitting, better to meditate on them singly or small, related bunches.
Reading up on the Rochefoucauld family, they are one of the oldest names, barons since the late 900s; there is still a Duc de La Rochefoucauld, I believe the 15th, Francois XIX, as well as cadet branches with other titles.
Enjoyed it. Thanks for posting.
Those really got around -- I can recall hearing or reading all of them in paraphrased form at one time or another. I wonder, however, if La Rochefoucald was the ultimate source or an avid collector.