(Grenoble, 27 April 1682 – Paris, 4 December 1749)
Baroness of Saint-Martin de l’isle de Ré, was a writer who organised a famous literary salon in the 18th century. She was the mother of Jean d’Alembert.
Portret: Josepg Aved.
Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning 💡:Key idea: Be receptive to offers of friendship; even if most of them yield nothing tangible, a single connection can be invaluable. “To repay you” = metaphorical: that one friendship can more than make up for everything (in support, advice, opportunities, loyalty), not necessarily financially. Practical wisdom: A principle of optionality/networking—rare but impactful relationships compensate for many neutral ones. Original wording and variations 🗣️: Most cited French: “Ne refusez jamais un parti d’amitié; si neuf sur dix ne vous apportent (ou: ne vous servent de) rien, un seul peut vous payer.”Variants: sometimes “peut tout payer” or “ne vous rapportt rien.” “Parti d’amitié” = offer/proposal of friendship. Author ✍️:Usual attribution: Madame de Tencin (Claudine Guérin de Tencin, 1682–1749), influential French salonnière and writer. Source status: Often attributed to her in 19th- and early 20th-century quotation collections, but a firm primary source (novel, letter, or contemporary note) has not been unequivocally demonstrated. Conclusion: Probably from the sphere of 18th-century French salon culture; the attribution to Tencin is widespread but not conclusive. Apocryphal remains a possibility. Context and dating 🕰️: Fits the pragmatic, aphoristic wisdom of salons in 18th-century France, where relationships and patronage were crucial.
Door Pieter
Mensenmens, zoon, echtgenoot, vader, opa.
Spiritueel, echter niet religieus.
Ik hou van golf, wandelen, lezen en de natuur in veel opzichten.
Onderzoeker, nieuwsgierig, geen fan van de mainstream media (MSM).
