Pierre Choderlos de Laclos Quotes

A collection of quotes by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (1741-1803) was a French army officer, novelist, and playwright. He was born on October 18, 1741, in Amiens, France. Laclos served as an artillery officer in the French army, attaining the rank of captain.

In 1782, Laclos achieved literary fame with the publication of his infamous epistolary novel, "Les Liaisons dangereuses" (Dangerous Liaisons). This scandalous novel, focusing on the manipulation, deceit, and betrayal in the French aristocracy, made Laclos a recognized figure in French literature.

Following the French Revolution, Laclos' military career suffered due to his connections with the monarchy. He changed careers and became a political journalist during the Reign of Terror, which was a period of intense political upheaval. However, he soon fell out of favor and was imprisoned briefly.

Laclos returned to his military career during the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. He participated in several military campaigns and was eventually promoted to the rank of general. However, his health deteriorated, and he retired from active service in 1801.

Pierre Choderlos de Laclos passed away at the age of 61 on September 5, 1803, in Taranto, Italy. Though his literary career was relatively short, his novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" remains one of the most influential works of French literature, exploring themes of love, power, and moral corruption.