Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet quotes

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop, theologian, and renowned orator of the 17th century. His sermons and writings on theology and politics greatly influenced the Catholic Church and French monarchy. He became famous for his eloquent speeches and his defense of absolute monarchy. Here are 8 of his quotes:

Honor is like the eye, which cannot suffer the least impurity without damage. It is a precious stone, the price of which is lessened by a single flaw.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

The greatest weakness of all weaknesses is to fear too much to appear weak.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

In the midst of the disguises and artifices that reign among men, it is only attention and vigilance that can save us from surprises.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

The inexorable boredom that is at the core of life.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

Nature, or to speak in more Christian fashion, God, the common Father of men, from the outset gave equal rights to all his children to all the things they needed to preserve their lives. None of us can boast of being more privileged than the rest by nature; but through the insatiable desire to amass wealth, it became impossible for this beautiful brotherhood to endure for long in the world. Men had to resort to division and possession, which resulted in constant quarrels and litigation; of this were born the words 'mine' and 'thine'-such cold terms, as the admirable St. John Chrysostom remarks-of this, too, was born the great diversity of conditions, some living in affluence in every respect, others languishing in penury.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

The worst derangement of the spirit is to believe things because we want them to be so, not because we have seen them for what they are.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

To know one's self, one must go all the way to horror.

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet