“It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.”

French aristocrat and 17th-century writer. His *Maxims* dissect human nature with razor-sharp wit, exposing contradictions in pride, love, and ambition. Often called the father of modern moral aphorisms, his work remains a timeless lens on vanity and self-interest.