“The moderation of great men only sets a limit to their vices. The moderation of weak men is mediocrity.”

—  Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues

La modération des grands hommes ne borne que leurs vices. La modération des faibles est médiocrité.
Source: Reflections and Maxims (1746), p. 168.

Original

La modération des grands hommes ne borne que leurs vices. La modération des faibles est médiocrité.

Reflections and Maxims (1746)

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Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues photo
Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues 60
French writer, a moralist 1715–1747

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