“There is nothing worse than a great talent in a small soul.”Luc de Vauvenargues · Reflecții și maxime · 1746 · maxima 383
Exceptional talent becomes a destructive force when placed in the service of a petty character.
Vauvenargues separates capacity from character: the mind is a multiplier, and values decide the direction of the multiplication. A small soul means vanity, unscrupulousness, narrow vision; talent merely gives it greater reach. The mechanism is power without a brake. A brilliant but envious person sabotages a team more effectively than any mediocrity, because they are given means others lack.
Why it matters Useful when choosing collaborators or assessing yourself beyond mere competence.