As a precaution against boredom, my bitter enemy, it would have suited me to be a great, but unknown artist, using my talent only for the benefit of … - François-Auguste-René de Chateaubriand

It is a long way from these strict parents to the child-spoilers of today.

Los retratos que se han hecho de mí, sin ningún parecido con el original, son principalmente debidos a mi reserva en el hablar. La multitud es demasiado superficial, demasiado inatenta para tomarse el tiempo requerido, para ver a los individuos tal como son.

The Parisian bourgeoisie laugh at the bourgeoisie from a small town; the Court nobility mock the provincial nobility: the famous man scorns one who is unknown, without reflecting that time serves equal justice on their pretensions, and that they are all equally ridiculous or tedious in the eyes of succeeding generations.