Charles Maurice de Talleyrand

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

Without freedom of the press, there can be no representative government. ”

The bold defiance of a woman is the certain sign of her shame, - when she has once ceased to blush, it is because she has too much to blush for. ”

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

Ones reputation is like a shadow, it is gigantic when it precedes you, and a pigmy in proportion when it follows. ”

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

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

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

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

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