---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The French have a saying that whatever…"
description: "\"The French have a saying that whatever excellence a man may exhibit in a public station he is very apt to be ridiculous in a private one.\" — Charles Ca..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png"
---

#  The French have a saying that whatever excellence a man…

![“The French have a saying that whatever excellence a man may exhibit in a public station he is very apt to be ridiculous in a private one.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png)

> “The French have a saying that whatever excellence a man may exhibit in a public station he is very apt to be ridiculous in a private one.”

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Public confidence can mask incompetence; private settings reveal true ability.

**In simple terms:** Public success may hide private weakness.

Key Takeaway

Seek authenticity in all settings.

Themes

humility authenticity self‑awareness public vs private

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- leadership
- team meetings
- personal relationships
- public speaking

Key Concepts

psychology of self‑presentation social masks integrity

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you act differently when unobserved?
- How can you align private and public selves?

A Different Perspective

Public praise can inflate ego, hindering growth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Excellence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/)

## Related quotes

> [Every man whom chance alone has, by some accident, made a public character, hardly ever fails of becoming, in a short time, a ridiculous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/every-man-whom-chance-alone-has-by-some-accident-made-a-public/)

[Jean Francois Paul de Gondi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-paul-de-gondi/)

> [“A typical french saying once was : "When the portugese colonized, they built churches; when the British colonized, they build trading stations; when the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-gordon/a-typical-french-saying-once-was-when-the-portugese-colonized-they/)

David C. Gordon

> [Wherever God has planted you, you must know how to flower - translated from a French saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-furst/wherever-god-has-planted-you-you-must-know-how-to-flower-translated/)

[Alan Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-furst/)

> [“She brought forth a piece of wood into which she had burned a French saying which our friend Franz had used to cheer us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hahn-beer-a/she-brought-forth-a-piece-of-wood-into-which-she-had-burned-a-french/)

[Edith Hahn Beer a](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hahn-beer-a/)

> [“There's a French saying, ‘Où le Dieu a vous semé, il faut savoir fleurir.’ Let's see, ‘Wherever God has planted you, you must know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-furst/there-s-a-french-saying-o-le-dieu-a-vous-sem-il-faut-savoir-fleurir/)

[Alan Furst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-furst/)

> [A man who knows the world will not only make the most of everything he does know, but of many things he does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-man-who-knows-the-world-will-not-only-make-the-most-of-everything/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [There are two metals, one of which is omnipotent in the cabinet, and the other in the camp--gold and iron. He that knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/there-are-two-metals-one-of-which-is-omnipotent-in-the-cabinet-and/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [For it is the natural tendency of the ignorant to believe what is not true. In order to overcome that tendency it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-the-natural-tendency-of-the-ignorant-to-believe-what-is-not/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [If the system exhibits a structure which can be represented by a mathematical equivalent, called a mathematical model, and if the objective can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-dantzig/if-the-system-exhibits-a-structure-which-can-be-represented-by-a/)

[George Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-dantzig/)

> [it's not my job to preach a sermon. Art is anyhow a homily. My job is to speak in living images, not in arguments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/it-s-not-my-job-to-preach-a-sermon-art-is-anyhow-a-homily-my-job-is/)

[Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/)

> [I think movies are now like going to a museum and seeing the latest exhibit - people just aren't going. It really is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-think-movies-are-now-like-going-to-a-museum-and-seeing-the-latest/)

[Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/)

> [Being a powerful woman who also exhibits great warmth is an incredible feat because people think that to be powerful you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/being-a-powerful-woman-who-also-exhibits-great-warmth-is-an/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

> ["Natural" is a very dangerous word to use about sexuality ... Our society's notions of normality are completely fake and meta-trendy, since they rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susie-bright/natural-is-a-very-dangerous-word-to-use-about-sexuality-our-society-s/)

[Susie Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susie-bright/)

> [I am happy to exhibit, but not to put myself on exhibition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-cocteau/i-am-happy-to-exhibit-but-not-to-put-myself-on-exhibition/)

[Jean Cocteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-cocteau/)

> [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

## More by Charles Caleb Colton

> [Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/villainy-that-is-vigilant-will-be-an-overmatch-for-virtue-if-she/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/a-beautiful-woman-if-poor-should-use-double-circumspection-for-her/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/were-the-life-of-man-prolonged-he-would-become-such-a-proficient-in/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/to-dare-to-live-alone-is-the-rarest-courage-since-there-are-many-who/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/it-is-doubtful-whether-mankind-are-most-indebted-to-those-who-like/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/none-are-so-fond-of-secrets-as-those-who-do-not-mean-to-keep-them/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/mental-pleasures-never-cloy-unlike-those-of-the-body-they-are/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/ignorance-lies-at-the-bottom-of-all-human-knowledge-and-the-deeper-we/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/heroism-self-denial-and-magnanimity-in-all-instances-where-they-do/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-ought-not-to-be-over-anxious-to-encourage-innovation-in-cases-of/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/we-owe-almost-all-our-knowledge-not-to-those-who-have-agreed-but-to/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/metaphysicians-have-been-learning-their-lessons-for-the-last-four/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/faith-and-works-are-necessary-to-our-spiritual-life-as-christians-as/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/when-all-moves-equally-says-pascal-nothing-seems-to-move-as-in-a/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

[Explore all 778 Charles Caleb Colton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

## More Excellence quotes

> [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/)

[Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/)

> [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/)

[Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/)

> [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/)

[Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/)

> [You learn a lot from quality players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marouane-fellaini/you-learn-a-lot-from-quality-players/)

[Marouane Fellaini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marouane-fellaini/)

> [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. Excellence is to be exceptional, surpassing, more competent and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/in-your-goals-to-go-the-extra-mile-prepare-to-pay-an-extra-cost/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [We want to promote the great quality of athletics - and maintain it's integrity - all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-juantorena/we-want-to-promote-the-great-quality-of-athletics-and-maintain-it-s/)

[Alberto Juantorena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-juantorena/)

> [“Anytime I see a rainbow, what comes into my mind is how skillful and talented someone was to create an ark that didn't leak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/anytime-i-see-a-rainbow-what-comes-into-my-mind-is-how-skillful-and/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/)

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/)

> [We may be masters of our every lot By bearing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/we-may-be-masters-of-our-every-lot-by-bearing-it/)

[Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/)

> [Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/quality-means-doing-it-right-when-no-one-is-looking/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [We cannot all be masters, nor all masters Cannot be truly followed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-cannot-all-be-masters-nor-all-masters-cannot-be-truly-followed/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Leadership, pure and simple, is the assumption of responsibility for the pursuit of excellence in group life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-selznick/leadership-pure-and-simple-is-the-assumption-of-responsibility-for/)

Philip Selznick

> [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

[Browse all 4,187 Excellence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excellence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The French have a saying that whatever excellence a man may exhibit in a public station he is very apt to be ridiculous in a private one.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles Caleb Colton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-excellence-a-man-may-exhibit/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Excellence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-excellence-a-man-may-exhibit/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d9/charles-caleb-colton-270_excellence_the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-e_2076263.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The French have a saying that whatever excellence a man may exhibit in a public station he is very apt to be…” — Charles Caleb Colton",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles Caleb Colton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The French have a saying that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-excellence-a-man-may-exhibit/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-french-have-a-saying-that-whatever-excellence-a-man-may-exhibit/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```