“Those who continually slander, rarely do injury: they imagine more evil than they can accomplish.”

— Vauvenargues, Reflections and Maxims (1746), Maxim 626, tr. F. G. Stevens (1940)

About Vauvenargues

1715 – 1747

French moralist, author of "Reflections and Maxims" (1746).

“Patience is the art of hoping.”

“Necessity relieves us from the embarrassment of choice.”

“It is proof of a narrow mind when things worthy of esteem are distinguished from things worthy of love.”

“We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.”

“You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”

“Myths are made for the imagination to breathe life into them.”

“Public Disputes warm the Imagination, whet the Industry, and strengthen the natural Abilities.”

“Where we find a difficulty we may always expect that a discovery awaits us. Where there is cover we hope for game.”

“For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning.”