Luc De Clapiers Quotes

Powerful Luc De Clapiers for Daily Growth

About Luc De Clapiers

Luc de Clapiers d'Exufernes Marquis de Vauvenargues, commonly known as Vauvenargues, was a French moralist, essayist, and poet born on October 31, 1715, in Montpellier, France. He is best remembered for his maxim-filled work "Maximes et Pensées" (Maxims and Reflections). Born into a noble family, Vauvenargues received an education fitting of his social status. However, he showed little interest in the legal career his family had planned for him. Instead, he was drawn to literature and philosophy, spending long hours reading works by Voltaire, Montesquieu, and other Enlightenment thinkers. In 1740, Vauvenargues moved to Paris, where he associated with literary figures like Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Denis Diderot. His time in Paris was marked by poverty, which influenced his cynical outlook on life and society. Despite his difficult circumstances, he continued to write, publishing his first work, "Mémoires sur la vie et la mort" (Memoirs on Life and Death), in 1746. Vauvenargues' most significant work, "Maximes et Pensées," was published posthumously in 1747. This collection of short sentences, each a reflection on life or human nature, quickly gained popularity due to its wit, wisdom, and insight into the complexities of the human condition. Some famous maxims include: "The more one judges, the less one loves," and "To be great is to be missed." Vauvenargues died on July 20, 1747, at the age of 31. His work continues to influence French thought and literature, offering a unique perspective on morality and human nature that resonates with readers even today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced."

This quote by Luc de Clapiers emphasizes that life should not be treated as something to be solved or figured out, but rather lived and experienced in all its complexity and richness. It encourages us to immerse ourselves in the present moment, appreciate the journey, and savor each experience for its own sake, rather than constantly striving for a fixed outcome or solution. This perspective can foster greater fulfillment and joy in life.


"He who runs after two rabbits catches none."

This quote by Luc de Clapiers d'Excusemeansthat pursuing multiple goals or objectives simultaneously dilutes focus, increasing the likelihood of failure to achieve either or both. It is more effective to concentrate on one task at a time to maximize chances of success.


"Patience serves as a protective force."

This quote by Luc de Clapiers suggests that patience is not just a passive quality, but an active and powerful one. It implies that patience acts as a shield or defense mechanism, protecting us from the harm that can come from hasty actions, impulsive decisions, or uncontrolled emotions. In other words, taking time to think, to understand, and to react appropriately in challenging situations can help us navigate more effectively and avoid unnecessary conflicts or mistakes.


"To know what life really is, one must be both hungry and thirsty."

This quote suggests that true understanding or experiencing the essence of life requires a strong desire, symbolized by hunger and thirst, for knowledge, growth, connection, or fulfillment. It implies that merely existing without an active quest for meaning or purpose is not living fully.


"The soul always knows what to do to heal itself; the challenge is to silence the mind."

This quote implies that our inner self, or soul, has an innate wisdom for healing and growth. However, our thoughts or mind can often interfere with this process, causing distress or confusion. The challenge lies in learning to quiet the mind's chatter, allowing the soul's intuition and guidance to take precedence. Essentially, the quote suggests that true healing comes from within, but we must cultivate inner stillness to hear its voice.


The wicked are always surprised to find ability in the good.

- Luc de Clapiers

Ability, Find, Always, Wicked

Wicked people are always surprised to find ability in those that are good.

- Luc de Clapiers

Ability, Find, Always, Wicked

The maxims of men reveal their characters.

- Luc de Clapiers

Men, Reveal, Characters, Maxims

The art of pleasing is the art of deception.

- Luc de Clapiers

Art, Deception, Pleasing

The most absurd and reckless aspirations have sometimes led to extraordinary success.

- Luc de Clapiers

Extraordinary, Most, Absurd, Aspirations

The fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of pleasures.

- Luc de Clapiers

Fruit, Pleasures, Derived, Sweetest

Obscurity is the realm of error.

- Luc de Clapiers

Realm, Error, Obscurity

One promises much, to avoid giving little.

- Luc de Clapiers

Giving, Avoid, Much, Promises

Our failings sometimes bind us to one another as closely as could virtue itself.

- Luc de Clapiers

Failure, Closely, Itself, Bind

Indolence is the sleep of the mind.

- Luc de Clapiers

Sleep, Mind, Indolence

It is difficult to esteem a man as highly as he would wish.

- Luc de Clapiers

Wish, Esteem, Would, Highly

When a thought is too weak to be expressed simply, it should be rejected.

- Luc de Clapiers

Thought, Too, Rejected, Expressed

To execute great things, one should live as though one would never die.

- Luc de Clapiers

Die, Never, Though, Execute

You must rouse into people's consciousness their own prudence and strength, if you want to raise their character.

- Luc de Clapiers

Strength, Own, Consciousness, Rouse

The greatest evil which fortune can inflict on men is to endow them with small talents and great ambition.

- Luc de Clapiers

Small, Which, Endow, Talents

Those who can bear all can dare all.

- Luc de Clapiers

Bear, Who, Those, Dare

Clearness ornaments profound thoughts.

- Luc de Clapiers

Thoughts, Profound, Ornament

Men sometimes feel injured by praise because it assigns a limit to their merit; few people are modest enough not to take offense that one appreciates them.

- Luc de Clapiers

Feel, Offense, Appreciates, Modest

There is nothing that fear and hope does not permit men to do.

- Luc de Clapiers

Fear, Nothing, Does, Permit

Everyone is born sincere and die deceivers.

- Luc de Clapiers

Die, Born, Everyone, Sincere

The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one's opportunities and make the most of one's resources.

- Luc de Clapiers

Greatest Achievement, Opportunities

Clarity is the counterbalance of profound thoughts.

- Luc de Clapiers

Thoughts, Brainy, Profound, Clarity

Patience is the art of hoping.

- Luc de Clapiers

Patience, Art, Hoping

To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die.

- Luc de Clapiers

Die, Never, Though, Great Things

If people did not compliment one another there would be little society.

- Luc de Clapiers

Society, Another, Would, Compliment

The fool is like those people who think themselves rich with little.

- Luc de Clapiers

Think, Themselves, Like, Fool

Vice stirs up war, virtue fights.

- Luc de Clapiers

War, Vice, Fights, Virtue

All grand thoughts come from the heart.

- Luc de Clapiers

Heart, Thoughts, Come, Grand

Great thoughts come from the heart.

- Luc de Clapiers

Love, Thoughts, Come, Heart

Emotions have taught mankind to reason.

- Luc de Clapiers

Emotions, Reason, Mankind, Taught

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