Help from any history students. Please

[spacial]

I really need some help findingthe source of a quotation for a paper I'm writing.

It comes from Pre-Revolutionary France. Some time in the 18th century. It was said by an aristocrat who also was either a cardinal or an Arch Bishop.

The quote is. 'It is difficult to sin in the right company'.

The statement was used by the revolutionaries to justify their attacks upon the Church.

I really need to know who said this. It is so important.

I'm sorry to put this onto people. When I was constructing the paper I was absolutely sure I knew who said it. But I can't find any references. I recall reading it in a book about 34 years ago. I was sure it was the Duc du Clauncy. But this is not returning any results in the search.

I must have the name wrong.

If anyone has read or heard this quote before, please can you give me any information you have.

To admins. I am so sorry if this is not the appropriate place to ask such a question. I hope you will let this go this time.

[LordKAT]

It sounds familiar for some reason but like the quote is not quite exact. I will ponder this.

[Cindy]

Sorry Spacial.
Like Ken stated I also have an awareness of the quote. If you translate it back to French can that help the search, because the English translation is very different to the French version.

Tale of Two Cities?

Cindy

[spacial]

Thank you both for your efforts.

I am absolutely certain it came from a history book and was attributed. I can even picture the history book in my mind. Sadly, it was called, History of Modern Europe'. That narrows it down to about a few thousand titles.  It was a school text, designed for A level. About equal to senior class in your High Schools.

I am also certain of the wording. I recall annalysing it at the time. I even used it in at least two papers I wrote around that time. Sadly, I don't have any of the stuff I wrote up to 1994.

I'm pulling my hair out here. There has to be someone who knows who said it.

But thank you both for responding. I do appreciate your input and efforts.

[rejennyrated]

sounds like something that Rousseau might have said to me...

[LivingInGrey]

I haven't had a chance to look deep into this, but you might want to look into Voltaire. 18th century french, did a lot of political and religious (some say anti-religious) writings.

I remember hearing a lot about him when I was in school.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltaire

[rejennyrated]

yes Voltaire is another distinct possibility.

[spacial]

Thank you all for your contributions so far. They are encouraging.

I have asked someone for a French translation.

Il est difficile de péché dans la bonne compagnie

Sadly, my French is next to non-existant so searching French files is a problem.

My wife is fluent but lacks the patience for such things. I hope this might help some who may have more competance in French than me.

[Arch]

I searched Google Books with all sorts of combinations of phrasing. Couldn't find the quotation or anything even remotely close to it. Checked a couple of reference books (quotations). Nada.

Sorry.