We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Flattery
Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Innocence
There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Change
It is far easier to know men than to know man.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Men
We find means to cure folly, but none to reclaim a distorted mind.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Mind
Of all our faults, that which we most readily admit is indolence.—We persuade ourselves that it cherishes all the peaceful virtues, and that without destroying the others it merely suspends their functions.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
What we call liberality is often but the vanity of giving; we are more fond of the ostentation than of the generosity of the act.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Men give away nothing so liberally as advice.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Advice
Jealousy feeds upon suspicion, and it turns into fury or it ends as soon as we pass from suspicion to certainty
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Jealousy
Everyone complains of the badness of his memory, but nobody of his judgment.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Judgment, Judges, Judging
The strongest symptom of wisdom in man is his being sensible of his own follies.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Wisdom
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail of success.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Failure, Persistence, Attention, Perseverance, Success
Hope and fear are inseparable.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Hope
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.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Potential, Desires, Possibilities, Desire
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.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Example
Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Friendship
However brilliant an action may be, it ought not to pass for great when it is not the result of a great design.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Greatness, Good Deeds, Deeds
We confess small faults, in order to insinuate that we have no great ones.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Faults
We pardon as long as we love.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Forgiveness
Old age is a tyrant, which forbids the pleasures of youth on pain of death.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Age, Pleasure
We come altogether fresh and raw into the several stages of life, and often find ourselves without experience, despite our years.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Fresh
I always say to myself, what is the most important thing we can think about at this extraordinary moment.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: The Present
Esteem has more engaging charms than friendship and even love.—It captivates hearts better, and never makes ingrates.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Respect
Philosophy easily triumphs over past and future ills; but present ills triumph over philosophy.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Philosophy
We often boast that we are never bored; but we are so conceited that we do not perceive how often we bore others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Egotism
The world more frequently recompenses the appearance of merit, than merit itself.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Merit
Vanity makes us do more things against inclination than reason.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Vanity
It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness, languid as it is, often masters them all; she influences all our designs and actions, and insensibly consumes and destroys both passions and virtues.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Idleness
Were we to take as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to disguise what we are, we might appear like ourselves without being at the trouble of any disguise at all.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Deceit
Hypocrisy is homage paid by vice to virtue.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Topics: Hypocrisy
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