Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and sometimes renders the most foolish man clever. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire to be thought clever often prevents a man from becoming so. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Passion often makes a fool of the cleverest man and often makes the most foolish men clever — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There is scarcely any man sufficiently clever to appreciate all the evil he does. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It's easier to know people in general than one person in particular — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are no accidents so unlucky from which clever people are not able to reap some advantage, and none so lucky that… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A clever man reaps some benefit from the worst catastrophe, and a fool can turn even good luck to his disadvantage. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We are not fond of praising, and never praise any one except from interested motives. Praise is a clever, concealed, and delicate… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their mind and eyes that at the… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are no circumstances, however unfortunate, that clever people do not extract some advantage from. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“It is a great act of cleverness to conceal one's being clever.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A clever man should handle his interests so that each will fall in suitable order of their value. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We can be more clever than one, but not more clever than all. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are but very few men clever enough to know all the mischief they do. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share