Скачать или смотреть “The man who knows does not speak. The man who speaks does not know.”

“The man who knows does not speak. The man who speaks does not know.”

This man’s power was so immense that his name survived the centuries in an unexpected way. After him, the term “Éminence Grise” entered common language to describe a powerful advisor or decision-maker who exercises decisive influence from the shadows, without official title or visible authority.

Originally, the expression referred to François Leclerc du Tremblay, a Capuchin monk and close advisor to Cardinal Richelieu. Although he held no official position, his political influence was so strong that he directly shaped the kingdom’s major decisions. His grey robe earned him this nickname, in contrast to the cardinal’s purple, the symbol of openly displayed power.

Today, the term describes all those who rule without appearing, who guide decisions without ever standing in the spotlight — a reminder that real power does not always need a crown or public recognition.

The Grey Eminence, Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1873
Music: P*rn Factory

#art #arthistory #painting #artwork #academicart #historicalpainting #symbolism #power #classicalart #19thcentury