Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
19 quotes
Biography
Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, 1st Prince of Benevento, then Prince of Talleyrand, was a French secularized clergyman, statesman, and leading diplomat. After studying theology, he became Agent-General of the Clergy in 1780.
"To be agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know."
"Je connais quelqu'un qui a plus d'esprit que Napoléon, que Voltaire, que tous les ministres présents et futurs: c'est l'opinion."
"Qui n'a pas vécu dans les années voisines de 1789 ne sait pas ce que c'est le plaisir de vivre."
"To succeed in the world, it is much more necessary to possess the penetration to discern who is a fool than to discover who is a clever man."
"The tricolour flag, symbol of revolution, was raised on the cathedral's towers and the bells rang to the frantic acclamation of the crowd. 'Listen to the tocsin! We are triumphing' remarked the Prince de Talleyrand gleefully: 'Who are we?' he was asked: 'Quiet! Not a word. I will tell you tomorrow' was the reply."
"There is no sentiment less aristocratic than that of nonbelief."
"Financiers flourish only when nations decline."
"Accessibility on the part of rulers ends by inspiring love rather than respect, and love evaporates at first sign of trouble."
"A diplomat who says "yes" means "maybe", a diplomat who says "maybe" means "no", and a diplomat who says "no" is no diplomat."
"To betray at the right time means to foresee."
"Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love (of coffee)."
"It is worse than a crime, it is a mistake."
"They have learned nothing, and forgotten nothing (and variations)."
"You are a thief, a coward, a man without faith. You don't believe in God; you have all your life failed in all your duties, you have deceived, betrayed everyone […] Look, sir, you are nothing but shit in silk stockings. (Vous êtes un voleur, un lâche, un homme sans foi. Vous ne croyez pas à Dieu ; vous avez toute votre vie manqué à tous vos devoirs, vous avez trompé, trahi tout le monde […] Tenez, Monsieur, vous n’êtes que de la merde en bas de soie.[This refers to the fact that Talleyrand always dressed in the old aristocratic fashion with breeches and stocking, while the Revolution and the Empire had led to the generalised use of full-length trousers previously used by the lower classes]"
"Un homme né pour les grands vices et les petites actions."
"A man born for great vices and small actions."
"I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep"
"The art of statemanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence."
"They had learned nothing and forgotten nothing."