Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand (1696–1780,) was a French salon hostess, writer, and prominent figure in Enlightenment intellectual circles. Known for her wit and skepticism, she cultivated relationships with leading philosophers and writers.
Born into a noble family at the Château de Chamrond, she was educated at a Benedictine convent in Paris, where her intelligence set her apart. In 1718, she married Jean-Baptiste de La Lande, Marquis du Deffand, but their union was unhappy, leading to separation in 1722. She soon became a central figure in Parisian salons, attracting thinkers such as Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Horace Walpole.
Her literary contributions include Lettres à Horace Walpole (1766–80; Letters to Horace Walpole, 1928,) a collection showcasing her sharp intellect and observations on society. Another notable work, Correspondance inédite avec la duchesse de Choiseul (1781; Unpublished Correspondence with the Duchess of Choiseul, 1903,) provides insights into her relationships and political views.
Benedetta Craveri’s Madame du Deffand and Her World (1995) examines her role in Enlightenment salons, while Sainte-Beuve’s Portraits de femmes (1840) offers literary analysis of her writings and personality.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand
The first step is the hardest.
—Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand
Heed the still, small voice that so seldom leads us wrong, and never into folly.
—Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand
Topics: Conscience
The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult.
—Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand
Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weakness.
—Marie Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise du Deffand
Topics: Women
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