WIST Quotations

Talleyrand -- (Attributed)

Dave — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 13:20:51 +0000

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

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
(Attributed)

Paraphrase of the statement attributed to Alexander the Great: "I am never afraid of an army of lions led into battle by a lamb. I fear more the army of lambs who have a lion to lead them."

Talleyrand -- (Attributed)

Dave — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 19:29:34 +0000

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

[L’art de mettre des hommes à leur place est le premier de la science de gouvernement; mais celui de trouver la place des mécontents est à coup sûr le plus difficile.]

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
(Attributed)

In Henry Lytton Bulwer, Influential Characters (1868)

Talleyrand -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:59:52 +0000

You do not play then at whist, sir! Alas, what a sad old age you are preparing for yourself!

[Vous ne jouez donc pas le whist, monsieur? Hélas! quelle triste vieilesse vous vous préparez!]

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
(Attributed)

In Amédée Pichot, Souvenirs Intimes sur M. de Talleyrand, "Le Pour et le Contre" (1870).

Talleyrand -- (Attributed)

Dave — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 17:29:41 +0000

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

[Noir comme le diable, chaud comme l’enfer, pur comme un ange, doux comme l’amour.]

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
(Attributed)
(Source)

Elements of a good cup of coffee.

Talleyrand -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:38:23 +0000

A cup of coffee lightly tempered with good milk detracts Nothing from your intellect; on the contrary, your stomach is freed by it, and no longer distresses your brain: it will not hamper your mind with troubles, but give freedom to its working. Suave molecules of Mocha stir up your blood, without causing excessive heat; the organ of thought receives from it a feeling of sympathy; work becomes easier, and you will sit down without distress to your principal repast, which will restore your body, and afford you a calm delicious night.

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
(Attributed)
(Source)

Talleyrand -- (Attributed)

Dave — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:29:01 +0000

Speech was given to man to conceal his thoughts.

[La parole a été donné à l’homme pour déguiser sa pensée.]

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
(Attributed)

For more discussion of the sources of this quote, see S. A. Bent, ed., Familiar Short Sayings of Great Men (1887). The sentiment, if not the precise wording, predates Talleyrand.

Talleyrand -- Reminiscences of Prince Talleyrand (1850)

Dave — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 13:36:31 +0000

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you know already.

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
Reminiscences of Prince Talleyrand (1850)

Talleyrand -- Comment to Tsar Alexander (1815)

Dave — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 00:54:27 +0000

Treason is merely a question of dates.

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838) French secularized clergyman, statesman, wit, diplomat
Comment to Tsar Alexander (1815)
(Source)

Variant: "Treason is merely a matter of dates."

Both versions of the line are quoted in different biographies of Talleyrand, apparently derived from a passage in his Memoirs (ed. Albert de Broglie, tr. De Beaufort (1891)). He relates while at the Congress of Vienna (1814-15), Tsar Alexander referred to Saxony as "Those who betrayed the cause of Europe" for joining with Napoleon, to which Talleyrand replied (mindful that Alexander had at times been allied with Napoleon), "Sire, that is a question of dates."

In the movie Die Hard 2 (1990), the quote is misattributed to Cardinal Richelieu in Alexandre Dumas, The Three Musketeers (1844). Variants on the line actually have been used in movie editions of Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo (but not in the actual book).