John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
8916 Plutarh AD 46?-AD 120 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 8916 |
| AUTHOR: | Plutarch (A.D. 46?–A.D. c. 120) |
| QUOTATION: | When Hermodotus in his poems described Antigonus as the son of Helios, “My valet-de-chambre,” said he, “is not aware of this.” 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Of Isis and Osiris. |
| Note 1. No man is a hero to his valet-de-chambre.—Marshal Catinat (1637–1712). Few men have been admired by their domestics.—Montaigne: Essays, book iii. chap. 2. This phrase, “No man is a hero to his valet,” is commonly attributed to Madame de Sévigné, but on the authority of Madame Aissé (Letters, edited by Jules Ravenal, 1853) it really belongs to Madame Cornuel. [back] |