Chamfort, Sébastien Roch Nicolas

views updated

Sébastien Roch Nicolas Chamfort (sābästyăN´ rōk nēkōlä´ shäNfôr´), 1740–94, French writer. He is remembered only for his maxims and epigrams. His acute observations on literature, morals, and politics made him popular at court, despite his republican beliefs. In the Reign of Terror Chamfort was denounced, and he may have committed suicide.

More From encyclopedia.com