Translated by Arthur Chandler
The maxim: definitions
Madame de Sablé and her salon
Some images of the Parisian salon
1
Comme rien n'est plus faible et moins raisonnable que de soumettre son jugement à celui d'autrui, sans nulle application du sien, rien n'est plus grand et plus sensé que de le soumettre aveuglément à Dieu, en croyant sur sa parole tout ce qu'il dit.
[My translation: “Just as there is no action weaker or more unreasonable than to submit one's judgement to another's, where there is no advantage to oneself, so also there is nothing greater or wiser than to place oneself unquestioningly under God's judgement by believing in every word He speaks.”]
[ChatGPT 3.5 translation: "Just as nothing is weaker and less reasonable than submitting one's judgment to that of others without any application of one's own, nothing is greater and wiser than blindly submitting it to God by believing everything He says on His word."]
2
Le vrai mérite ne dépend point du temps, ni de la mode. Ceux qui n'ont point d'autre avantage que l'air de la Cour le perdent quand ils s'en éloignent; mais le bon sens, le savoir et la sagesse rendent habile et aimable en tout temps et en tous lieux.
True merit does not depend on the times or on fashion. Those who have no other advantage than courtly manners lose it when they are away from court. But good sense, knowledge, and wisdom make their possessors knowledgeable and likable in all ages and at all times.
[ChatGPT 3.5 translation: "True merit does not depend on time or fashion. Those who have no other advantage than the appearance of the Court lose it when they move away from it; but good sense, knowledge, and wisdom make one skillful and likable at all times and in all places."]
3
Au lieu d'être attentifs à connaître les autres, nous ne pensons qu'à nous faire connaître nous-mêmes. Il vaudrait mieux écouter pour acquérir de nouvelles lumières que de parler trop pour montrer celles que l'on a acquises.
Instead of taking care to acquaint ourselves with others, we only think of making ourselves known to them. It would be better to listen to other people in order to become enlightened rather than to speak too much in order to impress them with our own enlightenment.
[ChatGPT 3.5 translation: "Instead of being attentive to getting to know others, we only think about making ourselves known. It would be better to listen to gain new insights than to speak too much to show off what we have acquired."]
4
Il est quelquefois bien utiles de feindre que l'on est trompé. Car lorsque l'on fait voir à un homme artificieux qu'on reconnaît ses artifices, on lui donne sujet de les augmenter.
[My translation: It is sometimes useful to pretend we are deceived, because when we show a cunning man that we see through his artifices, we only encourage him to increase his deceptions.
[ChatGPT3.5 translation: "Sometimes it is very useful to pretend that one is deceived. Because when you show a cunning man that you recognize his tricks, you give him a reason to increase them."]
[ChatGPT3.5 translation into Spanish: "A veces es muy útil fingir que uno está siendo engañado. Porque cuando mostramos a un hombre astuto que reconocemos sus artimañas, le damos motivo para aumentarlas."]
[ChatGPT3.5 translation into Latin: "Interdum valde utile est simulare se decipi. Nam cum homini astuto ostendimus nos artificia eius agnoscere, causam ei damus ad augendos."]
[ChatGPT3.5 translation into Old English: "It is sumtīd wel nytlic tō fēngan þæt wē biġlȳdaþ. Þæt is, þonne wē tō cnāwanne ūrne manncynne þæs cræftes, þonne wē hine lǣtaþ mārigen hīt."]
[ChatGPT3.5 translation into Japanese: "時々、自分がだまされたと偽ることは非常に有益です。なぜなら、巧妙な人に自分が彼の策略を見抜いていることを示すと、彼にそれらを増やす理由を与えてしまうからです。" (Jikkan, jibun ga damasareta to itsuwaru koto wa hijō ni yūeki desu. Nazenara, kōmyō na hito ni jibun ga kare no sakuryaku o mi nuite iru koto o shimesu to, kare ni sorera o fuyasu riyū o ataete shimau kara desu.)]
[ChatGPT3.5 translation into Hebrew: יש פעמים שכדאי מאוד להתחזות שאנחנו טועים. כי כשאנחנו מראים לאיש מרומם שאנחנו מזהים את המרמות שלו, אנחנו נותנים לו סיבה להגבירן. (Yesh pa'amim shekh'day me'od lehitchazot she'anakhnu to'im. Ki kesh'anakhnu mar'im le'ish marom she'anakhnu mizhin et hamirmot shelo, anakhnu notnim lo sibah lehagbiran.)]
5
On juge si superficiellement des choses que l'agrément des actions et des paroles communes, dites et faites d'un bon air, avec quelque connaissance des choses qui se passent dans le monde, réussissent souvent mieux que la plus grande habilité.
We judge matters so superficially that ordinary acts and words, done and spoken with some flair and some knowledge of worldly matters, often succeed better than the greatest cleverness.
[ChatGPT3.5 translation:"People judge things so superficially that the charm of common actions and words, spoken and done with a good demeanor and some knowledge of what is happening in the world, often succeeds better than the greatest skill."]
6
Être trop mécontent de soi est une faiblesse. Être trop content de soi est une sottise.
To be too dissatisfied with ourselves is a weakness. To be too satisfied with ourselves is a folly.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Being too discontent with oneself is a weakness. Being too content with oneself is foolishness."]
7
Les esprits médiocres, mais mal faits, surtout les demi-savants, sont les plus sujets à l'opiniâtreté. Il n'y a que les âmes fortes qui sachent se dédire et abandonner un mauvais parti.
Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be stubborn. Only strong minds know how to correct their opinions and abandon a bad position.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Mediocre minds, especially those half-learned, are most prone to stubbornness. Only strong souls can retract and abandon a bad position."]
8
La plus grande sagesee de l'homme consiste à connaître ses folies.
Man's greatest wisdom consists in knowing his own follies.
[ChatGPT3.5: "The greatest wisdom of man consists in knowing his follies."]
9
L'honnêteté et la sincérité dans les actions égarent les méchants et leur font perdre la voie par laquelle ils pensent arriver à leurs fins, parce que les méchants croient d'ordinaire qu'on ne fait rien sans artifice.
Honest and sincere acts mislead the wicked and cause them to lose their path to their own goals, because mean-spirited people usually believe that people never act without deceit.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Honesty and sincerity in actions lead the wicked astray and make them lose the path they think will lead them to their ends, because the wicked usually believe that nothing is done without deceit."]
10
C'est une occupation bien pénible aux fourbes d'avoir toujours à couvrir le défaut de leur sincérité et à réparer le manquement de leur parole.
It is a very trying task for deceitful people, always to have to cover up their lack of sincerity and to repair the breaking of their word.
[ChatGPT3.5: "It is a very burdensome occupation for the deceitful to constantly have to cover up the lack of their sincerity and to repair the breach of their word."]
[“O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!” — Sir Walter Scott]
11
Ceux qui usent toujours d'artifice devraient au moins se servir de leur jugement, pour connaître qu'on ne peut guère cacher longtemps une conduite artificieuse parmi des hommes habiles, et toujours appliqués à la découvrir, quoiqu'ils feignent d'être trompés pour dissimuler la connaissance qu'ils en ont.
They who use trickery should at least make use of their judgement to learn that they can scarcely hide treacherous conduct for very long among clever people who are determined to discover the truth, although they may pretend to be deceived in order to disguise their knowledge of the stratagems.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Those who always use artifice should at least employ their judgment to know that one cannot hide a deceitful conduct for long among clever people who are always dedicated to uncovering it, even though they pretend to be deceived to conceal their knowledge of it."
12
Souvent les bienfaits nous font des ennemis et de l'ingrat ne l'est presque jamais à demi. Car il ne se contente pas de n'avoir point la reconnaissance qu'il doit, il voudrait même n'avoir pas son bienfateur pour témoin de son ingratitude.
Often our good deeds make enemies for us, and the ungrateful person despises us on two counts; for he is not only unwilling to acknowledge the gratitude he owes us: he does not want to have his benefactor as witness to his ingratitude.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Often, favors make enemies of us, and the ungrateful one is hardly ever halfway so. For not only is he devoid of the gratitude he should have, but he would even prefer not to have his benefactor as a witness to his ingratitude."]
13
Rien ne nous peut tant instruire du dérèglement général de l'homme que la parfaite connaissance de nos dérèglements particuliers. Si nous voulons faire réflexion sur nos reconnaîtrons dans notre âme le principe de tous les vices que nous reprochons aux autres; si ce n'est par nos actions, ce sera au moins par nos movements. Car il n'y a point de malice que l'amour-propre ne présente à l'esprit pour s'en servir aux occasions, et il y a peu de gens assez vertueux pour n'être pas tentés.
Nothing can tell us so much about the general lawlessness of humanity as a perfect acquaintance with our own immoderate behavior. If we would think over our own impulses, we would recognize in our own souls the guiding principle of all vices which we reproach in other people; and if it is not in our very actions, it will be present at least in our impulses. There is no malice that self-love will not offer to our spirits so that we may exploit any occasion, and there are few people virtuous enough not to be tempted.
[ChatGPT 3.5: "Nothing can instruct us more about the general disorder of mankind than the perfect knowledge of our particular disorders. If we want to reflect on ourselves, we will recognize in our soul the source of all vices we criticize in others; if not through our actions, at least through our inclinations. There is no wickedness that self-love does not present to the mind to be used on suitable occasions, and there are few people virtuous enough not to be tempted."]
14
Les richesses n'apprennent pas à ne se point passionner pour les richesses. La possession de beaucoup de biens ne donne pas le repos qu'il y a de n'en point désirer.
"Wealth does not teach us to transcend the desire for wealth. The possession of many goods does not bring the repose of not desiring them.
[ChatGPT3.5:"Wealth does not teach one to refrain from being passionate about wealth. The possession of many possessions does not bring the peace that comes from not desiring them."]
[“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase.” — Ecclesiastes 5:10]
15
Il n'ya que les petits esprits qui ne peuvent souffrir qu'on leur reproche leur ignorance parce que, comme ils sont ordinairement fort aveugles en toutes choses, fort sots, et fort ignorants, ils ne doute jamais de rien et sont persuadés qu'ils voient clairement ce qu'ils ne voient qu'au travers de l'obscurité de leur esprit.
There are petty-minded people who cannot endure to be reminded of their ignorance because, since they are usually quite blind to all things, quite foolish and ignorant, they never question anything, and are persuaded that they see clearly what in fact they never see at all, save through the darkness of their own dispositions.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Only small minds cannot bear to be reproached for their ignorance because, as they are usually very blind in all things, very foolish, and very ignorant, they never doubt anything and are convinced that they see clearly what they only see through the darkness of their mind."]
16
Il n'y a pas du raison de trop s'accuser de ses défauts, que de s'en trop excuser. Ceux qui s'accusent par excès le font souvent pour ne pouvoir souffrir qu'on les accuse ou par vanité de faire croire qu'ils savent confesser leurs défauts.
There is no more reason to accuse ourselves excessively of our failings than to excuse them overmuch. Those who goes overboard in self-criticism often do so in order not to suffer others' criticisms, or else do so out of a kind of vanity that wishes to make others believe that they know how to confess their faults.
[ChatGPT3.5: "There is no reason to accuse oneself too much of one's faults, nor to excuse them too much. Those who accuse themselves excessively often do so because they cannot bear being accused or out of vanity, to make others believe they know how to confess their faults."]
17
C'est une force d'esprit d'avouer sincèrement nos défauts et et nos perfections, et c'est une faiblesse de ne pas demeurer d'accord du bien et du mal qui est en nous.
It is a strength of character to acknowledge our failings and our strong points, and it is a weakness of character not to remain in harmony with both the good and the bad that is within us.
[ChatGPT3.5: "It is a strength of character to sincerely acknowledge our faults and our perfections, and it is a weakness not to remain aware of the good and evil within us."
18
On aime tellement toutes les choses nouvelles et les choses extraordinaires qu'on a même quelque plaisir secret par la vue des plus tristes et des plus terribles événements, à cause de leur nouveauté et de la malignité naturelle qui est en nous.
We so love all new and unusual things that we even derive a secret pleasure from the saddest and most tragic events, both because of their novelty and because to the natural malignity that exists within us.
[ChatGPT3.5: "We are so fond of all new and extraordinary things that we even derive some secret pleasure from witnessing the saddest and most terrible events, because of their novelty and the innate malice that exists within us."]
[La Rochefoucauld: “In the adversity of our best friends, we always find something that does not displease us.]
19
On peut bien se connaître soi-même mais on ne s'examine point assez pour cela, et on se soucie d'avantage de paraître tel qu'on doit être que d'être en effet ce qu'on doit.
We can know ourselves quite well, but for all that we never sufficiently scrutinize ourselves, and we take more pains to appear as we should than to actually be what we should.
[ChatGPT3.5: "One can know oneself well, but one does not examine oneself enough for that, and one cares more about appearing as one should be than actually being what one should be."
20
Si l'on avait autant de soin d'être ce qu'on doit être que de tromper les autres en déguisant ce que l'on est, on pourrait se montrer tel qu'on est, sans avoir la peine de se déguiser.
If we took as much trouble to be what we should be as we take to deceive others by disguising what we are, we could appear as we really are without having the trouble of disguising ourselves.
[ChatGPT3.5: "If we took as much care to be what we ought to be as we do to deceive others by disguising what we are, we could show ourselves as we are without the trouble of disguising."]
21
Il n'y a personne qui ne puisse recevoir de grands secours et de grands avantages des sciences, mais il y a aussi pei de personnes qui ne reçevoient un grand préjudice des lumières et des connaissances qu'ils ont acquises par les sciences, s'ils ne s'en servent comme si elles leur étaient propres et naturelles.
There is no one who cannot derive great help and great benefit from learning; but there are also only a few people who do not receive a great harm from the light and knowledge they have received by learning, unless they use their knowledge in a manner both fit and natural for them.
[ChatGPT3.5: "There is no one who cannot receive great help and great benefits from knowledge, but there are also few people who do not suffer great harm from the insights and knowledge they have acquired through learning, if they do not use them as if they were their own and natural to them."]
22
Il y a une certaine médiocrité difficile à trouver avex ceux qui sont au-dessus de nous, pour prendre la liberté qui set à leurs plaisirs et à leur divertissements, sans blesser l'honneur et le respect qu'on leur doit.
There is a certain hidden mediocrity in those who are stationed above us in life: an ability to take liberties in their pursuit of pleasures and diversions, without injuring the honor and respect we owe to them.
[ChatGPT3.5: "There is a certain mediocrity difficult to achieve with those who are above us, to take the liberty that suits their pleasures and amusements without harming the honor and respect that we owe them."]
23
On a souvent plus d'envie de passer pour officieux que de réussir dans les offices, et souvent on aime mieux pouvoir dire à ses amis qu'on a bien fait pour eux que de bien faire en effet.
We would often rather seem dutiful than to succeed in our duties; and often we would rather tell our friends that we have done them good than to do good in actuality.
[ChatGPT3.5: "People often have more desire to appear unofficial than to succeed in official roles, and often they prefer to be able to tell their friends that they did well for them rather than actually doing good indeed."]
24
Les bons succès dépendent quelquefois du défaut de jugement parce que le jugement empêche souvent d'entreprendre plusieurs choses que l'inconsidération fait réussir.
Good results are sometimes owing to a failure of judgement, because the faculty of judgement often hinders us from undertaking many things which would succeed if carried through without thinking.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Good successes sometimes depend on the lack of judgment because judgment often prevents us from undertaking several things that imprudence makes successful."]
25
On loue quelquefois les choses passées pour blâmer les présentes, et pour mépriser ce qui est, on estime ce qui n'est plus.
Sometimes we praise the way things used to be in order to blame the present, and we esteem what no longer exists in order to scorn what is.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Sometimes, one praises past things to criticize the present, and to despise what is, one values what is no more."
26
Il y a un certain empire dans la manière de parler et dans les actions, qui se fait faire place partout et qui gange par avance la considération et le respect. Il sert en toutes choses et même pour obtenir ce qu'on demande.
There is a certain imperiousness, in the manner of speaking and in actions, which makes itself felt everywhere, and soon wins attention and respect. This commanding quality is useful in all affairs, and even for obtaining what we ask for.
[ChatGPT3.5: "There is a certain authority in the way of speaking and in actions that gains acceptance everywhere and earns in advance consideration and respect. It serves in all matters, even to obtain what one asks for."]
27
Cet empire qui sert en toutes choses n'est qu'une autorité bienséante qui vient de la supériorité de l'esprit.
This imperiousness which aids us in all things is merely a fitting authority which comes from superior spirit.
[ChatGPT3.5: "This authority that serves in all matters is nothing but a fitting power that comes from the superiority of the mind."]
28
L'amour-propre se trompe méme par l'amour-propre, en faisant voir dans ses intérêts une si grande indifférence pour ceux d'autrui qu'il perd l'avantage qui se trouve dans le commerce de la rétribution.
Self-love is even deceived by self-love, because by looking out for our own interests and disregarding those of other people, we lose the advantage that comes with the exchange of favors.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Self-love even deceives itself through self-love, by showing such great indifference towards the interests of others that it loses the advantage found in the exchange of reciprocation."]
29
Tout le monde est si occupé de ses passions et de ses intérêts que l'on en veut toujours parler sans jamais entrer dans la passion et dans l'intérêt de ceux à qui on parle, encore qu'ils aient le même besoin qu'on ecoute et qu'on les assiste.
Everyone is so caught up in their own passions and interests that they always wants to talk about them without getting involved in the passions and interests of those to whom they speak, although their listeners have the same need for others to listen to and help them.
[ChatGPT3.5:"Everyone is so preoccupied with their passions and interests that they always want to talk about them without ever entering into the passion and interest of those to whom they speak, even though they have the same need to be listened to and assisted."]
[“Bore, noun: A person who talks when you wish him to listen.” — Ambrose Bierce]
30
Les liens de la vertu doivent être plus étroits que ceux du sang, l'homme de bien étant plus proche de l'homme de bien par la ressemblance des moeurs que le fils ne l'est de son père par la ressemblance du visage.
The ties of virtue ought to be closer than the ties of blood, since the good man is closer to another good man by their similarity of morals than the son is to his father by their similarity of face.
[ChatGPT3.5: "The bonds of virtue should be stronger than those of blood, as a virtuous person is closer to another virtuous person through the resemblance of character than a son is to his father through the resemblance of appearance."]
31
Une des choses qui fait que l'on trouve si peu de gens agréables et qui paraissent raissonables dans las conversation, c'est qu'il n'y en a quasi point qui ne pensent plutôt à ce qu'ils veulent dire qu'à répondre précisement à ce qu'on leur dit. Les plus complaissants se contentent de montrer une mine attentive, au même temps quŒon voit dans leurs yeux et dans leur esprit en égarement et une précipitation de retourner à ce qu'ils veulent dire, au lieu qu'on devrait juger que c'est un mauvais moyen de plaire que de chercher à se satisfaire si fort, et que bien écouter et bien répondre est une plus grande perfection que de parler bien et beaucoup, sans écouter et sans répondre aux choses qu'on nous dit.
One factor that makes it rare for us to find so few people who can carry on an agreeable and rational conversation is that there are practically no people who do not think first of all about what they want to say, rather than responding precisely to what others are saying to them. The politest people are content merely to show an attentive demeanor, while all the time we see that their eyes and their minds are wandering, and that they are in a rush to return to what they want to say. They should consider that this insistent search for self-satisfaction is a poor way of giving pleasure, and that it is a greater accomplishment to listen well and reply justly than to speak well and often without responding to what others are saying to us.
[ChatGPT3.5: "One of the reasons why there are so few people who are pleasant and seem reasonable in conversation is that there are hardly any who think more about what they want to say than about responding precisely to what is said to them. The most accommodating ones are content with showing an attentive demeanor, but at the same time, one can see in their eyes and in their minds a distraction and a haste to return to what they want to say. Instead, it should be understood that seeking to satisfy oneself so much is a poor way to please, and that listening well and responding thoughtfully is a greater skill than speaking well and at length, without truly listening and responding to what others say to us."']
32
La bonne fortune fait quasi toujours quelque changement dans le procédé, dans l'air et dans la manière de converser et d'agir. C'est une grande faiblesse de vouloir se parer de ce qui n'est point à soi. Si l'on estimait la vertu plus que tout autre chose, aucune faveur ni aucun emploi ne changerait jamais le coeur ni le visage des hommes.
Good fortune almost always makes some change in a man's behavior in his manner of speaking and acting. It is a great weakness to want to bedeck oneself in qualities which are not one’s own. If people esteemed virtue above all other things, neither the favors of fortune nor the advantages of position would change a their face or heart.
[ChatGPT3.5:"Good fortune almost always brings about some change in behavior, demeanor, and way of conversing and acting. It is a great weakness to want to adorn oneself with what does not belong to you. If virtue were valued more than anything else, no favor or position would ever change the heart or face of men."]
33
Il faut s'accoutumer aux folies d'autrui et ne se point choquer des niaiseries qui se disent en notre presence.
We must accustom ourselves to the follies of others and not be astonished at the foolishness that takes place in our presence.
[ChatGPT3.5:"One must get used to the follies of others and not be offended by the foolishness that is said in our presence."]
34
La grandeur de l'entendement embrasse tout. Il y a autant d'esprit à souffrir les défauts des autres qu'à connaître leurs bonnes qualités.
The greatness of understanding embraces all. It requires as much spirit to suffer the failings of others as it does to appreciate their good qualities.
[ChatGPT3.5: "The greatness of understanding encompasses everything. There is as much wisdom in tolerating the faults of others as in recognizing their good qualities."]
35
Savoir bien découvrir l'interieur d'autrui et cacher le sien est une grande marque de supériorité d'esprit.
To know how to unveil the inner workings of others, and how to hide one's own, is the great mark of the superior intellect.
[ChatGPT3.5:"To know how to deeply understand others while concealing one's own is a great sign of intellectual superiority."]
36
Le trop parler est un si grand défaut qu'en matière d'affaires et de conversation, si ce qui est bon est court, il est doublement bon, et l'on gagne par la brièveté ce qu'on perd souvent par l'excès des paroles.
It is such a great fault to talk too much that, in business and conversation, if what is good is also brief, it is doubly good, and one gains by brevity what one often loses by an excess of words.
[ChatGPT3.5: "Excessive talking is such a great flaw that in matters of business and conversation, if what is good is concise, it is doubly good, and brevity gains what is often lost through excessive words."]
37
On se rend quasi toujours maître de ceux que l'on connaît bien, parce que celui qui est parfaitment connu est en quelque façon soumis à celui qui le connaît.
We nearly always make ourselves masters of those whom we know well, because he who is thoroughly understood is in some sense subject to those who understand him.
[ChatGPT3.5: "One almost always becomes master of those whom one knows well because the one who is perfectly known is, in a way, subjected to the one who knows them."]
38
L'étude et la recherche de la vérité ne sert souvent qu'à nous faire voir par expérience l'ignorance qui nous est naturelle.
Study and research into truth often only serves to make us see by experience our natural ignorance.
[ChatGPT3.5: "The study and pursuit of truth often serves only to show us, through experience, the ignorance that is inherent in us."]
39
On fait plus de cas des hommes quand on ne connaît point jusqu'où peut aller leur suffisance, car l'on présume toujours davantage des choses que l'on ne voit qu'à demi.
We think highly of men when we do not know the extent of their capabilities, for we always suppose that more exists when we only see half.
[ChatGPT3.5: "We hold men in higher esteem when we do not know the full extent of their self-importance because we always presume more about things that we only see partially."]
40
Souvent le désir de paraître capable empêche de le devenir, parce que l'on a plus d'envie de faire voir ce que l'on sait que l'on n'a de désir d'apprendre ce que l'on ne sait pas.
Often the desire to appear competent impedes our ability to become competent, because we more anxious to display our knowledge than to learn what we do not know.
[ChatGPT3.5:"Often, the desire to appear capable prevents one from becoming so, because there is more eagerness to demonstrate what one knows than a desire to learn what one does not know."]