Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Born: 01-01-1741
Pierre Choderlos de Laclos was a French novelist and military officer born in 1741. Best known for his 1782 novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses," Laclos explored themes of manipulation and seduction within the aristocracy. His work is a seminal piece of 18th-century literature, offering a sharp critique of social mores. Aside from writing, Laclos had a successful military career and was involved in various political activities during the French Revolution.
Book summaries for books written by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Quotes
I cease to live, or I cease to love you.
I know that I am hastening my own destruction.
I am to be a mere machine, useful to his passions, to his pleasures; I am to forget myself and consider only him!
I have been guilty of many errors, I shall be guilty of many more, but I never believed I was doing wrong.
The love I feel for you is too great to allow me to be your mistress.
I am paying for the follies of my youth.
I am chained to my own misery.
It is easy to distinguish between the truly noble and the spurious. The former never put on airs.
Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love.
The pleasure of love is in love itself.
I am a man, and I go where I please.
I have been reduced to the state of a machine, useful to his passions, to his pleasures; to forget myself and consider only him!