La Rochefoucauld, Francois De quotes
1613-1680 French Classical WriterWe never desire strongly, what we desire rationally.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Desire
There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Change
Neither the sun nor death can be looked at with a steady eye
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Death and Dying
We would rather speak badly of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Egotism
Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Character
We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Confession
There are few virtuous women who are not bored with their trade.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Chastity
Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Enemies
To safeguard one s health at the cost of too strict a diet is a tiresome illness indeed.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Diets and Dieting
Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Confidence
There are ways which lead to everything, and if we have sufficient will we should always have sufficient means.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Desire
If it were not for the company of fools, a witty man would often be greatly at a loss.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Company
Few persons have sufficient wisdom to prefer censure, which is useful, to praise which deceives them.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Censure
Our enemies approach nearer to truth in their judgments of us than we do ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Enemies
The sure way to be cheated is to think one s self more cunning than others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Deception
To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Greatness
Usually we praise only to be praised.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Compliments
There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Crime and Criminals
The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Cleverness
True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Eloquence
It is great cleverness to know how to conceal our cleverness.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Cleverness
How ever a brilliant an action, it should not be viewed as great unless it is the result of a great motive.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Deeds and Good Deeds
Decency is the least of all laws, but yet it is the law which is most strictly observed.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Decency
Humility is often a false front we employ to gain power over others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Humility
We are nearer loving those who hate us than those who love us more than we wish.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
We love those who admire us, but not those whom we admire.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
What makes lovers never tire of one another is that they talk always about themselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
It is a wearisome disease to preserve health by too strict a regimen.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Health
He who lives without folly isn t so wise as he thinks.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Fools and Foolishness
No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Failure
It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Firmness
Nothing is so contagious as an example. We never do great good or evil without bringing about more of the same on the part of others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Example
The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Envy
We pardon to the extent that we love.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Forgiveness
Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Flattery
There is no disguise that can for long conceal love where it exists or simulate it where it does not.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
It is not enough to succeed, others must fail.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Envy
It is with true love as it is with ghosts; everyone talks about it, but few have seen it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
It is for want of application, rather than of means that people fail,
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Failure
All women are flirts, but some are restrained by shyness, and others by sense.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Flirting
What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Generosity
Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Goals
What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Generosity
Gracefulness is to the body what understanding is to the mind.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Grace
Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Envy
It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Friends and Friendship
When our hatred is violent, it sinks us even beneath those we hate.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Hatred
We seldom find people ungrateful so long as it is thought we can serve them.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Gratitude
In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Gratitude
We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Happiness
We are never so happy nor so unhappy as we imagine.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Happiness
What men have called friendship is only a social arrangement, a mutual adjustment of interests, an interchange of services given and received; it is, in sum, simply a business from which those involved propose to derive a steady profit for their own self-love.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Friends and Friendship
In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Friends and Friendship
However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Friends and Friendship
There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Fortune
If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love
A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care to acquire.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Friends and Friendship
The fame of great men ought to be judged always by the means they used to acquire it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Fame
In jealousy there is more of self-love than love.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Jealousy
Live on doubts; it becomes madness or stops entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Jealousy
The height of cleverness is being able to conceal it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Modesty
Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they are not so often the result of a great design as of chance.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Luck
The happiness or unhappiness of men depends as much on their humors as on fortune.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Humor
Fortune and humor govern the world.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Humor
Chance corrects us of many faults that reason would not know how to correct.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Luck
It s easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Intelligence and Intellectuals
In the human heart new passions are forever being born; the overthrow of one almost always means the rise of another.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Passion
If I advance, follow me! If I retreat, kill me! If I die, avenge me!
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Leaders and Leadership
Why is our memory good enough to recall to the last detail things that have happened to us, yet not good enough to recall how often we have told them to the same person.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Memory
A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Praise
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Praise
There are few people who are not ashamed of their love affairs when the infatuation is over.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Love Ended
Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Passion
The only good imitations are those that poke fun at bad originals.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Imitation
If we resist our passions, it is more through their weakness than from our strength.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Passion
The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Lovers
Jealously is always born with love but it does not die with it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Jealousy
There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand imitations.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Imitation
Too great a hurry to discharge an obligation is a kind of ingratitude.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Ingratitude
The passions are the only orators which always persuade.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Passion
Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Listening
Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Jealousy
Hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Hypocrisy
Hope and fear are inseparable.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Hope
Hope is the last thing that dies in man; and though it be exceedingly deceitful, yet it is of this good use to us, that while we are traveling through life it conducts us in an easier and more pleasant way to our journey s end.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Hope
What makes us so bitter against people who outwit us is that they think themselves cleverer than we are.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Losers and Losing
Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Innocence
The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Interest
Everyone complains of the badness of his memory, but nobody of his judgment.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Judgment and Judges
We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Opinions
A person well satisfied with themselves is seldom satisfied with others, and others, rarely are with them.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
People
The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Surprises
We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Motivation
There are people who in spite of their merit disgust us, and others who please us in spite of their faults.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
People
When a man finds no peace within himself, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Peace
Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Pride
Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Pettiness
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Perseverance
It is easier to know men in general, than men in particular.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Men
We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Strength
We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood all the motives behind them.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Motives
In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Professions and Professionals
Moderation in people who are contented comes from that calm that good fortune lends to their spirit.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Moderation
Not all those who know their minds know their hearts as well.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Mind
The mind is always the patsy of the heart.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Mind
The accent of one s birthplace remains in the mind and in the heart as in one s speech.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Places
Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Timidity
Before we set our hearts too much on anything, let us examine how happy are those who already possess it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Models and Modeling
It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold, than of the office which one fills.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Promotion
Moderation is an ostentatious proof of our strength of character.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Moderation
We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Motivation
We credit scarcely any persons with good sense except those who are of our opinion.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Opinions
Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Possibilities
If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Speakers and Speaking
Passions are the only orators to always convinces us.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Speakers and Speaking
The intellect is always fooled by the heart.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Psychology
Lovers never get tired of each other because they are forever talking about themselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Selfishness
Weak people cannot be sincere.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Sincerity
The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Self-esteem
We have more ability than will power, and it is often an excuse to ourselves that we imagine that things are impossible.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Resolution
Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Style
We are never so ridiculous by the qualities we have, as by those we affect to have.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Quality
The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Temper
One can find women who have never had one love affair, but it is rare indeed to find any who have had only one.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Relationships
Taste may change, but inclination never.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Taste
How can we accept another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Secrets
Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Respectability
The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Shame
We may give advice, but not the sense to use it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Advice
Men give away nothing so liberally as their advice.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Advice
We forget our faults easily when they are known to ourselves alone.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Faults
There are few good women who do not tire of their role.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Goodness
The one thing people are the most liberal with, is their advice.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Advice
Only the great can afford to have great defects.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Faults
If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure in noticing those in others.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Faults
We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Advice
The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each is thinking more about what he intends to say than others are saying.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Agreement
To know how to hide one s ability is great skill.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Ability
There are heroes in evil as well as in good.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Heroes and Heroism
Nothing so much prevents our being natural as the desire to seem so.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Appearance
To establish yourself in the world a person must do all they can to appear already established.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Appearance
Our actions are like the terminations of verses, which we rhyme as we please.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Action
The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age in which we live.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Ability
Funeral pomp is more for the vanity of the living than for the honor of the dead.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Funerals
We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Agreement
Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Courage
True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Courage
We can never be certain of our courage until we have faced danger.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Courage
We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Conversation
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Conversation
Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Anticipation
Quarrels would not last so long if the fault lay only on one side.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Argument
There is hardly a man clever enough to recognize the full extent of the evil he does.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Evil
Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Absence
We often do good in order that we may do evil with impunity.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Evil
We always love those who admire us; we do not always love those whom we admire.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Admiration
As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Age and Aging
Few people know how to be old.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Age and Aging
Old age is a tyrant, who forbids, under pain of death, the pleasures of youth.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Age and Aging
Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for their inability to give bad examples.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Age and Aging
When we cannot find contentment in ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Contentment
Old people love to give good advice to console themselves for no longer being able to set a bad example.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Age and Aging
We like to see others, but don t like others to see through us.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Behavior
It is more easy to be wise for others than for ourselves.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Wisdom
It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Wisdom
As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Wisdom
We are more often treacherous, through weakness than through calculation.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Weakness
There are few people who are more often in the wrong than those who cannot endure to be so.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Wrong
What makes vanity so insufferable to us, is that it hurts our own.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Vanity
He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
World
It s the height of folly to want to be the only wise one.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Wisdom
Bodily labor alleviates the pains of the mind and from this arises the happiness of the poor.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Work
We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Vice
Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Valor
The common foible of women who have been handsome is to forget that they are no longer so.
La Rochefoucauld, Francois De
Women