Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it. — 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
Men never desire anything very eagerly which they desire only by the dictates of reason. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“Nothing prevents us being natural so much as the desire to appear so.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“The desire to be pitied or to be admired often forms the greater part of our confidence.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
In the human heart new passions are forever being born; the overthrow of one almost always means the rise of another. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The contempt of riches in the philosophers was a concealed desire of revenging on fortune the injustice done to their merit, by… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Reconciliation with our enemies is simply a desire to better our condition, a weariness of war, or the fear of some unlucky… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When we exaggerate our friends' tenderness towards us, it is often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Love of fame, fear of disgrace, schemes for advancement, desire to make life comfortable and pleasant, and the urge to humiliate others… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having seen, makes up a good part of… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune;… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When we seek reconciliation with our enemies, it is commonly out of a desire to better our own condition, a being harassed… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When we enlarge upon the affection our friends have for us, this is very often not so much out of a sense… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is a mighty error to suppose that none but violent and strong passions, such as love and ambition, are able to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We label judges with having the meanest motives, and yet we desire that our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment… — 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
It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Virtue is the habit of acting according to wisdom. GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ, "Felicity", Leibniz: Political Writings Virtue is harder to be got… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The greatest part of intimate confidences proceed from a desire either to be pitied or admired. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Civility is a desire to receive civilities, and to be accounted well-bred. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We do not wish ardently for what we desire only through reason. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should wish for few things with eagerness, if we perfectly knew the nature of that which was the object of our… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The moderation of men in the most exalted fortunes is a desire to be thought above those things that have raised them… — 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
![“Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation. [However disappointment can always be removed if we remember it could have turned out worse.]” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/d22/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_answers_our-desires-always-disappoint-us-for-tho_3082315.png)
