Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord quotes

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord was a French diplomat and statesman, renowned for his political skill and adaptability. As a key advisor, he served under several French regimes, including the monarchy, the revolutionary government, Napoleon, and the restored monarchy. He is remembered as one of history’s most influential diplomats, adept at navigating complex political landscapes. Here are 34 of his quotes:

War is much too serious a thing to be left to military men.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

To succeed in the world, it is much more necessary to possess the penetration to discern who is a fool, than to discover who is a clever man.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

The art of putting the right men in the right places is first in the science of government; but that of finding places for the discontented is the most difficult.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Whoever did not live in the years neighboring 1789 does not know what the pleasure of living means.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Never speak ill of yourself, your friends will always say enough on that subject.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Since the masses are always eager to believe something, for their benefit nothing is so easy to arrange as facts.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Beauty, devoid of grace, is a mere hook without the bait.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

I know where there is more wisdom than is found in Napoleon, Voltaire, or all the ministers present and to come - in public opinion.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

If we go on explaining we shall cease to understand one another.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Love of glory can only create a great hero; contempt of glory creates a great man.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

The reputation of a man is like his shadow, gigantic when it precedes him, and pigmy in its proportions when it follows.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Merit, however inconsiderable, should be sought for and rewarded. Methods are the master of masters.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Too much sensibility creates unhappiness and too much insensibility creates crime.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

It is not an event; it is a piece of news.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

What clever man has ever needed to commit a crime? Crime is the last resort of political half-wits.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

She is such a good friend that she would throw all her acquaintances into the water for the pleasure of fishing them out again.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

I am more afraid of an army of 100 sheep led by a lion than an army of 100 lions led by a sheep.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Show me another pleasure like dinner which comes every day and lasts an hour.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

A court is an assembly of noble and distinguished beggars.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

Mistrust first impulses; they are nearly always good.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

The art of statesmanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord