Let us not envy a certain class of men for their enormous riches; they have paid such an equivalent for them that it would not suit us; they have given for them their peace of mind, their health, their honour, and their conscience; this is rather too dear, and there is nothing to be made out of such a bargain.
[N’envions point à une sorte de gens leurs grandes richesses; ils les ont à titre onéreux, et qui ne nous accommoderait point: ils ont mis leur repos, leur santé, leur honneur et leur conscience pour les avoir; cela est trop cher, et il n’y a rien à gagner à un tel marché.]Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 6 “Of Gifts of Fortune [Des Biens de Fortune],” § 13 (6.13) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]
(Source)
One translator suggestions the "certain class of men" refers to the partisans, or tax-farmers: private tax collectors, often of humble origin, who purchased the right to their job, and were notorious for turning tax collection into a profitable profession.
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:Let us not envy some Men their great Riches; their Burthens would be too heavy for us; we cou'd not Sacrifice, as they do, Health, Quiet, Honour and Conscience, to obtain 'em: 'Tis to pay so dear for them that there is nothing to be got by the Bargain.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]Let us not envy some Men their great Riches, their burden would be too heavy for us; we cou'd not sacrifice, as they do, Health, Quiet, Honour and Conscience, to obtain 'em: 'Tis to pay so dear for 'em, that there is nothing to be got by the Bargain.
[Curll ed. (1713)]Let us not envy some Men their accountable Riches; their Burthen would be too heavy for us; we could not sacrifice, as they do, Health, Quiet, Honour and Conscience, to obtain them. It is to pay so dear for them, that the Bargain is a Loss.
[Browne ed. (1752)]We need not envy certain people their great wealth; they acquired it at a heavy cost, which would not suit us; they staked their rest, their health, their honour and their conscience to acquire it; the price is too high, and there is nothing to be gained by such a bargain.
[tr. Stewart (1970)]
Quotations about:
bargain
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
You always pay too much. Particularly for promises. There ain’t no such thing as a bargain promise.
Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023) American novelist, playwright, screenwriter
No Country For Old Men (2005)
(Source)
FAUST
So you still have laws in Hell, in fact?
That’s good, since it allows a pact,
And one with you gentlemen truly binds?MEPHISTOPHELES
What’s promised you’ll enjoy, and find,
There’s nothing mean that we enact.[FAUST
Die Hölle selbst hat ihre Rechte?
Das find ich gut, da ließe sich ein Pakt,
Und sicher wohl, mit euch, ihr Herren, schließen?MEPHISTOPHELES.
Was man verspricht, das sollst du rein genießen,
Dir wird davon nichts abgezwackt.]Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Faust: a Tragedy [eine Tragödie], Part 1, sc. 6 “The Study,” l. 1466ff (1808-1829) [tr. Kline (2003)]
(Source)
Some translations (and this site) include the Declaration, Prelude on the Stage, and Prologue in Heaven as individual scenes; others do not, leading to their Part 1 scenes being numbered three lower.
(Source (German)). Alternate translations:FAUST
In Hell itself are some laws binding reckoned?
Bravo! then Sirs, with you one might contract
A bond, and ye would keep it to a tittle?
MEPHISTOPHELES
From what we promise, not a shred we whittle,
And unalloyed thou shalt enjoy the pact.
[tr. Latham (1790)]FAUST
Does Hell itself have its laws then?
that's fine! A compact in that case might be
Concluded safely with you gentlemen?
MEPHISTOPHELES
What's promised, you'll enjoy with naught subtracted,
With naught unduly snipped off or exacted.
[tr. Priest (1808)]FAUST
Hell then, it seems, has laws. I like it well:
With gentry so precise, a solemn compact
May, I presume, be made, and will be kept.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whate'er we promise you may safely trust to;
We will not bate one jot of the agreement.
[tr. Coleridge (1821)]FAUST
E'en hell hath its peculiar laws, I see!
I'm glad of that! a pact may then be made,
The which you gentlemen will surely keep?
MEPHISTOPHELES
What e'er therein is promised thou shalt reap,
No tittle shall remain unpaid.
[tr. Swanwick (1950)]FAUST: Hell itself has its laws ? I am glad of it; in that case a compact, a binding one, may be made with you gentlemen?
MEPHISTOPHELES: What is promised, that shalt thou enjoy to the letter; not the smallest deduction shall be made from it.
[tr. Hayward (1831)]FAUST
In hell itself, then, laws are reckoned?
Now that I like; so then, one may, in fact,
Conclude a binding compact with you gentry?
MEPHSTOPHELES
Whatever promise on our books finds entry,
We strictly carry into act.
[tr. Brooks (1868)]FAUST
In Hell itself, then, laws are reckoned?
That's well! So might a compact be
Made with you gentlemen -- and binding, -- surely?
MEPHISTOPHELES
All that is promised shall delight thee purely;
No skinflint bargain shalt thou see.
[tr. Taylor (1870)]FAUST
So so! then hell too has its laws and rights,
Thus might one profit by the powers of evil,
And make an honest bargain with the devil.
MEPHISTOPHELES
The devil, sir, makes no undue exaction,
And pays what he has promised to a fraction
[tr. Blackie (1880)]FAUST
For hell, too, laws have been ordained?
Superb! Then one could surely make a pact,
And one of you might enter my employ.
MEPHISTOPHELES
What we would promise you, you would enjoy.
And none of it we would subtract.
[tr. Kaufmann (1961)]FAUST
So Hell itself has its legalities?
This suits me fine, and I suppose
a pact might be concluded with you gentlemen?
MEPHISTOPHELES
The promises we make you shall enjoy in full;
We will not skimp or haggle.
[tr. Salm (1962)]FAUST
Is even Hell with statutes paved?
I am intrigued -- then with you gentlemen
A compact could, and safely too, be entered?
MEPHISTOPHELES
That which is promised shall be neatly rendered,
And nothing stinted or subtracted.
[tr. Arndt (1976)]FAUST
So even hell has laws? Good; in that case
One might conclude a pact with you
Gentlemen, and a guaranteed one too?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whatever is promised, you shall have your due,
There'll be no quibbling, no tergiversation.
[tr. Luke (1987)]FAUST
So even in Hell there's law and order!
I'm glad, for then a man might sign
A contract with you gentlemen.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Whatever we promise, you get, full measure,
There's no cutting corners, no skulduggery.
[tr. Greenberg (1992)]FAUST
So hell has its own laws and regulations too?
That's very good! So tell me --
I daresay it's possible to make a pact with you?
MEPHISTOPHOLES
Indeed; if you negotiate with us
, You'll find the offer tempting -- and we never cheat.
[tr. Williams (1999)]
Here lie I, Martin Elginbrodde:
Hae mercy o’ my soul, Lord God;
As I wad do, were I Lord God,
And ye were Martin Elginbrodde.
If you attempt to beat a man down and to get his goods for less than a fair price, you are attempting to commit burglary, as much as though you broke into his shop to take the things without paying for them. There is cheating on both sides of the counter and generally less behind it than before it.
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887) American clergyman and orator
(Attributed)
Quoted in John Bate, A Cyclopaedia Of Illustrations Of Moral And Religious Truths (1865)
Sacrifice is a form of bargaining.
Holbrook Jackson (1874-1948) English journalist, editor, author
Platitudes in the Making, ch. 3 “The Inner Temple,” #12 (1911)
(Source)
