"Τεθόλωται γὰρ τῇ φράσει, καὶ τεθορύβηται ταῖς φαντασίαις μᾶλλον, ἢ δεδείνωται, κἂν ἕκαστον αὐτῶν πρὸς αὐγὰς ἀνασκοπῇς, ἐκ τοῦ φοβεροῦ κατ' ὀλίγον ὑπονοστεῖ πρὸς τὸ εὐκαταφρόνητον."
This is referred to by Warton in his comments on Pope's translation of the Thebais of Statius; and Dr. Croly, apparently unacquainted with the passages in Paine and Blair, describes it, in his edition of Pope, as the anticipation of Napoleon's celebrated remark. It will be seen that the original saying, in its various peregrinations, has undergone a slight modification, Longinus making the translation a gradual one, "κατ' ὀλίγον," while Blair, Paine, and Napoleon make it but "a step." Yet, notwithstanding this disguise, the marks of its paternity are sufficiently traceable.
So much for this celebrated "mot." And, after all, there is very little wit or wisdom in it, that is not expressed or suggested by La Rochefoucauld's Maxims:—
"La plus subtile folie se fait de la plus subtile sagesse."
"Plus on aime une maîtresse, plus on est près de la haïr;"
or by Rousseau's remark—
"Tout état qui brille est sur son déclin;"
or by Beaumarchais' exclamation—
"Que les gens d'esprit sont bêtes!"
or by the old French proverb—