“A fool is always troublesome, a man of sense perceives when he pleases or is tiresome; he goes away the very minute before it might have been thought he stayed too long.”
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Les Caractères (1688), De la société et de la conversation
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Jean de La Bruyère65
17th-century French writer and philosopher 1645–1696Related quotes
“When a man is out of sight, it is not too long before he is out of mind.”
Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French poet, novelist, and dramatist
“And I'll stay away from Verlaine too; he was always chasing Rimbauds.”
Dorothy Parker (1893–1967) American poet, short story writer, critic and satirist
"The Little Hours" in Here Lies (1939); this plays on the title of the popular song "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"; Paul Verlaine was Arthur Rimbaud's lover.
“The fool has one great advantage over a man of sense — he is always satisfied with himself.”
Napoleon I of France (1769–1821) French general, First Consul and later Emperor of the French
Napoleon : In His Own Words (1916)
“A man should know something of his own country too, before he goes abroad.”
Laurence Sterne book The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Book VII (1765), Ch. 2.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760-1767)
“He knew now that he had always been a fool.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American novelist and screenwriter
"O Russet Witch!"
Quoted, Tales of the Jazz Age (1922)
Context: Merlin went up-stairs very quietly at nine o'clock. When he was in his room and had closed the door tight he stood by it for a moment, his thin limbs trembling. He knew now that he had always been a fool.
"O Russet Witch!"
But it was too late. He had angered Providence by resisting too many temptations. There was nothing left but heaven, where he would meet only those who, like him, had wasted earth.