To praise princes for virtues they are lacking in is a way of insulting them with impunity — François De La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Magnanimity is sufficiently defined by its name, nevertheless one can say it is the good sense of pride, the most noble way… — 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
We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free from great ones. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful to praise which is treacherous. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
That man, we may be sure, is a person of true worth, whom those who envy him most are yet forced to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones. — 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
