Jacques Bénigne Bossuet Quotes

French bishop and theologian (1627-1704)

Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (September 27, 1627 – April 12, 1704) was a French bishop, theologian, and court preacher. Bossuet was one of the first to advocate the theory of political absolutism; he made the argument that government was divine and that kings received their power from God.

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Alternative Names: Jacques-Benigne Bossuet • Eagle of Meaux

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The usual destiny of those who refuse to listen to the truth is to be led to their ruin by deceptive prophets.

C'est le plus grande de toutes les faiblesses, que de craindre trop rie paraître faible.

That inexorable boredom that is at the core of human life since man has lost the taste for God!

But God laughs at the prayers we make to him to avert public misfortunes, when we do not oppose what is being done to bring them about. What am I saying? when we approve of and subscribe to it, even if with repugnance.

Some always allege that excessive freedom ultimately destroys itself; while others fear on the contrary that authority, which by its nature always grows, will finally degenerate into tyranny.

[L]a perfection est la raison d'être.

[L]es hérésies n'ont jamais été que des opinions particulières, puisqu'elles ont commencé par cinq ou six hommes.

Mais Dieu se rit des prières qu'on lui fait pour détourner les malheurs publics, quand on ne s'oppose pas à ce qui se fait pour les attirer. Que dis-je? quand on l'approuve et qu'on y souscrit, quoique ce soit avec répugnance.

[L]e monde même vous désabuse du monde.

Honor is like the eye, which cannot suffer the least impurity without damage. It is a precious stone, the price of which is lessened by a single flaw.

To know one's self, one must go all the way to horror.