# Luc de Clapiers ![[50 Resources/51 Attachments/51.03 Public/2025-08-23_Luc_de_Clapiers.jpg|400]] **Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues** (6 August 1715 – 28 May 1747) was a French writer and moralist. He died at age 31, in broken health, having published the year prior—anonymously—a collection of essays and aphorisms with the encouragement of Voltaire, his friend. Born in Aix-en-Provence into the nobility, his family was poor. Frail health prevented him from pursuing any but minimal schooling. At age 17 or 18, Vauvenargues embarked on a career in the military, achieving the rank of lieutenant and later captain. He was part of the disastrous Siege of Prague (1742), which ruined him physically. He began corresponding with Voltaire in April 1743 and their acquaintance ripened into a deep friendship. In 1746 he published his sole volume, *Introduction à la connaissance de l'esprit humain*, with *Reflexions* and *Maximes* appended. He is known for his optimistic view of human nature, in contrast to the pessimism of his predecessors. ## Quotes <!-- QueryToSerialize: LIST FROM #type/quote AND [[Luc de Clapiers]] WHERE public_note = true SORT file.name ASC --> <!-- SerializedQuery: LIST FROM #type/quote AND [[Luc de Clapiers]] WHERE public_note = true SORT file.name ASC --> - [[Clarity is the counterbalance of profound thoughts]] <!-- SerializedQuery END --> ## Books <!-- QueryToSerialize: LIST FROM #books AND [[Luc de Clapiers]] WHERE public_note = true SORT file.name ASC -->