après moi le déluge

French

Wikiquote

Etymology

Literally, “after me, the deluge”. Attributed to French King Louis XV[1] or his mistress Madame de Pompadour.[2] Sometimes quoted as après nous le déluge (“after us, the deluge”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /a.pʁɛ mwa l(ə) de.lyʒ/

Phrase

après moi le déluge

  1. Used to indicate indifference to events that will happen after one’s death, or to indicate one’s own importance in maintaining order
    • 2011 November 21, David Gergen, “Have they gone nuts in Washington?”, in CNN.com‎ (in English and French):
      Sorry, our noble leaders tell us, we have to focus now on election 2012. What was it that Louis XV used to say? "Après moi, le déluge"?

Descendants

References
  1. après moi le déluge Merriam Webster.. Accessed on 10 February 2016
  2. The Expression “Après moi le déluge”, and Its Classical Antecedents
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