Best 49 quotes of Antoine Rivarol on MyQuotes

A fool may have his coat embroidered with gold, but it is a fool's coat still.

Axioms are delightful in theory, but impossible in practice.

Brave men do not boast nor bluster. Deeds, not words, speak for such.

Extremes produce reaction. Beware that our boasted civilization does not lapse into barbarism.

Familiarity is the root of the closest friendships, as well as the interests hatreds.

Generally speaking, there is more wit than talent in the world. Society swarms with witty people who lack talent.

Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.

History is only time furnished with dates and rich with events.

If poverty makes man groan, he yawns in opulence. When fortune exempts us from labor, nature overwhelms us with time.

Indolence and stupidity are first cousins.

In general, indulgence for those we know is rarer than pity for those we know not.

It is a notable circumstance that mothers who are themselves open to severe comments as to their, moral character, are generally most solicitous as to the virtuous behavior of their daughters.

It is, no doubt, an immense advantage to have done nothing, but one should not abuse it.

It is said that friendship between women is only a suspension of hostilities.

It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit.

Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future.

Mutability is written upon all things.

Oblivion is the rule and fame the exception, of humanity.

Obtuseness is sometimes a virtue.

Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way.

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.

Poverty treads close upon the heels of great and unexpected wealth.

Reason is the historian, but passions are the actors.

Rumor, once started, rushes on like a river, until it mingles with, and is lost in the sea.

Silence never yet betrayed any one!

Speech is external thought, and thought internal speech.

Tenderness is the infancy of love.

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.

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.

The cunning tempter, by avoiding the grossness of vice, often silences objections.

The despotism of will in ideas is styled plan, project, character, obstinacy; its despotism in desires is called passion.

The methods that help a man acquire a fortune are the very ones that keep him from enjoying it.

The mischief of children is seldom actuated by malice; that of grown-up people always is.

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.

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.

The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it.

The personal pronoun "I" should be the coat of arms of some individuals.

There are men who gain from their wealth only the fear of losing it.

There are some women who are flirts upon principle; they consider it their duty to make themselves as pleasing as possible to every one.

There is nothing so unready as readiness of wit.

The subtle sauce of malice is often indulged in by maidens of uncertain age, over their tea.

The woman who too easily and ardently yielded her devotion will find that its vitality, like a bright fire, soon consumes itself.

The world is governed by love,--self-love.

To lose one's self in reverie, one must be either very happy, or very unhappy. Reverie is the child of extremes.

True felicity consists of its own consciousness.

Very nice couplet, although there are dull stretches.

Vices are often habits rather than passions.

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.

Youth is not the era of wisdom; let us therefore have due consideration.