Maxims

The philosophy of La Rochefoucauld, which influenced French intellectuals as diverse as Voltaire and the Jansenists, is captured here in more than 600 penetrating and pithy aphorisms.

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La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) was a French classical author who was one of the most active rebels of the Fronde before becoming the leading proponent of the maxime, a French literary form of epigram that expresses severe or contradictory facts with brevity. La Rochefoucauld published only two works, the Mémoires and the Maximes. Additionally, about 150 letters have been collected with 19 shorter pieces, now known as Réflexions diverses.

Leonard Tancock (1902–1986) was an eminent translator of French and a renowned scholar. He taught French at University College London and is best known for his translation of classic French literature, including works by Émile Zola, Voltaire, and Guy de Maupassant.