1 Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way. -Antoine de Rivarol
Most people who talk behind your back can never be trusted. Then there are those who twist facts and make it such that even the good things about you end up seeming like something wicked.
2 The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy. -Antoine de Rivarol
Humans have a tendency for violence and hatred. No matter how much we try, that part is built in. Even the most developed civilisations are known to crumble into chaos very easily.
3 Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future. -Antoine de Rivarol
We waste so much of our time regretting the past, complaining about the present and worrying about the future. We need to learn to live in the present and enjoy what little time we have in this world.
4 It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit. -Antoine de Rivarol
Mystery has a way of enchanting us. People like things with a hint of mystery to it. That’s what makes the pursuit ever so fun and interesting.
5 It has been very truly said that the mob has many heads, but no brains. -Antoine de Rivarol
When a large crowd gets together, there’s bound to be chaos and confusion. A mob will always be disorderly without anyone to guide them.
6 Brave men do not boast nor bluster. Deeds, not words, speak for such. -Antoine de Rivarol
Brave men don’t have to boast about anything. They don’t rely on empty words. Rather, it’s their actions that speak for them.
7 It is easy for men to write and talk like philosophers, but to act with wisdom, there is the rub. -Antoine de Rivarol
It’s easy to talk about deep and philosophical stuff to sound smart. What’s difficult though, is to act with wisdom. You can write and talk and act smart but it’s your actions that will determine if you’re really as smart as you show yourself to be.
8 A fool may have his coat embroidered with gold, but it is a fool’s coat still. -Antoine de Rivarol
A fool may act and dress smart to change his appearance. But attire is not going to change the fact that a fool is still a fool. It’s always about actions and never about looks or words.
9 Mind is the partial side of men; the heart is everything. -Antoine de Rivarol
The mind is just one part of your existence. What truly matters is what you feel in your heart. Your emotions, ambitions, dreams and desires are all that make you who you are.
10 The world is governed by love. -Antoine de Rivarol
Love is paramount to keeping peace in this world. Without love, everything would crumble into chaos and there’ll only be hate and violence around you.
11 The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it. -Antoine de Rivarol
A huge amount of wealth may seem like a wonderful prospect. But the darkest thing about wealth is that it will never bring you peace. The more wealth you have, the more you’ll be worried about losing it. Being rich and being happy is not the same thing.
12 The modest man has everything to gain, and the arrogant man everything to lose. -Antoine de Rivarol
A modest person will see opportunity in even the worst circumstances. But an arrogant person will only have everything to lose as they fail to make perfect use of the opportunities.
13 Ideas are a capital that bears interest only in the hands of talent. -Antoine de Rivarol
Good ideas only belong to those who can cultivate them and make good use of them. Ideas are a tool that only the talented and wise to use fully.
14 Memory always obeys the commands of the heart. -Antoine de Rivarol
Our memories are often distorted by emotions. We like to remember things in ways that may be comforting and our minds end up distorting and twisting events to that end.
15 Vices are often habits rather than passions. -Antoine de Rivarol
People are slaves to their vices. It rarely happens that they do it because they actually like it. It’s often just a habit and habits, after all, die hard.
15 Most Profound Antoine de Rivarol Quotes
1. Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way. -Antoine de Rivarol
2. The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy. -Antoine de Rivarol
3. Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future. -Antoine de Rivarol
4. It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit. -Antoine de Rivarol
5. It has been very truly said that the mob has many heads, but no brains. -Antoine de Rivarol
6. Brave men do not boast nor bluster. Deeds, not words, speak for such. -Antoine de Rivarol
7. It is easy for men to write and talk like philosophers, but to act with wisdom, there is the rub. -Antoine de Rivarol
8. A fool may have his coat embroidered with gold, but it is a fool’s coat still. -Antoine de Rivarol
9. Mind is the partial side of men; the heart is everything. -Antoine de Rivarol
10. The world is governed by love. -Antoine de Rivarol
11. The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it. -Antoine de Rivarol
12. The modest man has everything to gain, and the arrogant man everything to lose. -Antoine de Rivarol
13. Ideas are a capital that bears interest only in the hands of talent. -Antoine de Rivarol
14. Memory always obeys the commands of the heart. -Antoine de Rivarol
15. Vices are often habits rather than passions. -Antoine de Rivarol