après nous le déluge

These words were attributed to Madame de Pompadour (1721-1764) in reply to those who remonstrated with her for her extravagance—“When I am gone, the deluge may come for all I care.” The same idea occurs in the Greek proverb quoted by Cicero (De Finibus, iii. 19), “Ἐμοῦ θανόντος γαῖα μιχθήτω πυρί.” Milton suggests Tiberius as saying, “When I die, let the earth be rolled in flames.”—Reason of Church Government, i. 5.