Chamfort, Nicolas -- Products of Perfected Civilization [Produits de la Civilisation Perfectionée], Part 1 “Maxims and Thoughts [Maximes et Pensées],” ch. 2, ¶ 133 (1795) [tr. Mathers (1926)]

Dave — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 20:38:52 +0000

Weak men are the light troops in the army of the wicked. They do more harm than the main force; they overrun and and ravage the country.

[Les gens faibles sont les troupes légères de l’armée des méchans. Ils font plus de mal que l’armée même; ils infestent et ils ravagent.]

Nicolas Chamfort (1741-1794) French writer, epigrammist (b. Nicolas-Sébastien Roch)
Products of Perfected Civilization [Produits de la Civilisation Perfectionée], Part 1 “Maxims and Thoughts [Maximes et Pensées],” ch. 2, ¶ 133 (1795) [tr. Mathers (1926)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

The weak are the light infantry of the army of the ill-intentioned. They do more harm than the army itself; they harry and they lay waste.
[tr. Merwin (1969)]

Weaklings are the light foot of the army of the wicked. They do more harm than the army itself, they pillage and lay waste.
[tr. Pearson (1973)]

Weak people are the light troops of the wicked. They cause more harm than the army itself, they infest and ravage.
[tr. Siniscalchi (1994)]

Weak people are the light infantry of the army of the wicked. They cause more harm than the army itself; they spread infection, they wreak havoc.
[tr. Parmée (2003), ¶108]

WIST Quotations

Chamfort, Nicolas -- Products of Perfected Civilization [Produits de la Civilisation Perfectionée], Part 1 “Maxims and Thoughts [Maximes et Pensées],” ch. 2, ¶ 133 (1795) [tr. Mathers (1926)]