Confidence in conversation has a greater share than wit. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The exceeding delight we take in talking about ourselves should give us cause to fear that we are giving but very little… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each is thinking more about what he intends to say… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The secret of pleasing in conversation is not to explain too much everything; to say them half and leave a little for… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Instead of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly to please ourselves, and that… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any… — 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