Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
S.A. Bent, comp. Familiar Short Sayings of Great Men. 1887.
Abbé Galiani
[Ferdinando Galiani, an Italian political economist, called by Grimm, “Plato, with the verve and antics of Harlequin,” and by Marmontel, “the head of Machiavelli on the shoulders of Harlequin;” born at Chieti, 1728; secretary of legation at Paris, 1759, where be remained many years; returning to Naples, filled administrative offices from 1777–82; died 1787.]
Do not buy your house in the Chaussée d’Antin: you must buy it in Philadelphia.
Letter to Mme. d’Épinay, 1776. He once, when in poverty, sent a collection of lava to Benedict XIV., with the words: “Make this stone become bread!” He received a canonry.He declared of politics: “Fools make the text, and men of wit the commentaries” (Les sots font le texte, et les hommes d’esprit les commentaires.)When some one said the trees of the park of Versailles were tall, straight, and thin (hauts, droits, et minces); “Like courtiers,” added the abbé.
