Maxims by François duc de La Rochefoucauld

Jmadden · Post by **Jmadden** » September 23rd, 2019, 2:29 pm

Great video explaining this authors' life and philosophy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CEvFA7laik

Rochefoucauld was one of the first to popularize the use of the 'maxim' and influenced the style of many philosophical writers including Nietzsche.

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld, also called (until 1650) Prince de Marcillac, (born September 15, 1613, Paris, France—died March 16/17, 1680, Paris), French classical author who had been one of the most active rebels of the Fronde before he became the leading exponent of the maxime, a French literary form of epigram that expresses a harsh or paradoxical truth with brevity. (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Francois-VI-duke-de-La-Rochefoucauld)

The book can be found here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/9105

I would also suggest his book 'Memiors' but I can't find it on Gutenberg.

barbara2 · Post by **barbara2** » March 4th, 2021, 5:26 pm

I warmly second this suggestion. There is a recording of a German edition of the Maxims but what a shame that none of our Francophone Librivoxers have recorded it. If I weren't busy, I'd like to have a go at the English language edition referenced in the above post so I have to leave this gem to someone else to record.

Best,

Barbara

Post by **TriciaG** » March 4th, 2021, 5:31 pm

About 32,000 words including the prefaces and addenda.