The Age of Louis XIV: The Story of Civilization, Volume VIII

by Will Durant

“Every time your Majesty creates an office,” he said to Louis, “God creates a fool to purchase it.”

Man is a competitive animal, and his character is his fate.

For in modern states the men who can manage men manage the men who can manage only things; and the men who can manage money manage all.

a man’s vices are usually the influence of his time, while his virtues are his own;

vitium est temporis potius quam hominis—“vices are of the age rat...