Joseph De Maistre: Greatness

Joseph De Maistre was Savoyard philosopher, writer, lawyer, and diplomat. Explore interesting quotes on greatness.

Joseph De Maistre: 26 quotes18 likes

“Genius does not seem to derive any great support from syllogisms. Its carriage is free; its manner has a touch of inspiration. We see it come, but we never see it walk.”

Joseph De Maistre

"Tenth Dialogue"
St. Petersburg Dialogues (1821)

“There is a great analogy between grace and genius, for genius is a grace. The real man of genius is the one who acts by grace or by impulsion, without ever contemplating himself and without ever saying to himself: Yes! It is by grace that I act.”

Joseph De Maistre

"Of Experiment and of the Genius of Discoveries," p. 37
An Examination of the Philosophy of Francis Bacon (1836)

“Men never respect what they have made themselves. This is why an elective king never possesses the moral power of a hereditary sovereign, because he is not noble enough, that is to say he does not possess that kind of greatness independent of men and that is the work of time.”

Joseph De Maistre

"Of Founders and the Political Constitution," p. 72
Against Rousseau (1795)