Sébastien Roch Nicolas Chamfort

Sébastien-Roch Nicolas de Chamfort (1741–1794) was a French writer best known for his sharp maxims and aphorisms. Born in Clermont-Ferrand, he made his name in Paris as a man of letters, writing for the theatre and moving in influential literary circles. His wit and moral observations aligned him with the spirit of the Enlightenment, and he later became involved in the French Revolution, serving as secretary to the Jacobin Club and working with revolutionary institutions. Disillusionment and political turmoil marked his final years. He died in Paris in 1794, leaving a lasting reputation as a master of concise, skeptical moral commentary.