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Daily Aphorism

12/05/2011

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There is a philosophy which lifts us above ambition and fortune, which equals us to, what am I saying? which places us higher than the wealthy, the nobility, and the powerful; which makes us neglect high posts, and the people who offer them; which exempts us from desiring, demanding, begging, solliciting, being importunate, and which even saves us from the emotion and excessive joy that comes from our prayers being granted. There is another philosophy which submits and subjects us to all of these things so that we can help the people near us and our friends: this one is better.

Il y a une philosophie qui nous élève au-dessus de l'ambition et de la fortune, qui nous égale, que dis-je? qui nous place plus haut que les riches, que les grands et que les puissants; qui nous fait négliger les postes et ceux qui les procurent; qui nous exempte de desirer, de demander, de prier, de solliciter, d'importuner, et qui nous sauve même l'émotion et l'excessive joie d'être exaucés. Il y a une autre philosophie qui nous soumet et nous assujettit à toutes ces chose en faveur de nos proches ou de nos amis: c'est la meilleure.


- La Bruyère, On judgment, aphorism 69

Picture
A courtyard in the Hôtel de Ville, Paris, where La Bruyère's father was controller general of finance.
 


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