What makes false reckoning, as regards gratitude, is that the pride of the giver and the receiver cannot agree as to the… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
That which occasions so many mistakes in the computations of men, when they expect return for favors, is that the giver's pride… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Humility is often only a feigned submissiveness by which men hope to bring other people to submit to them; it is a… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It seems that nature, which has so wisely disposed our bodily organs with a view to our happiness, has also bestowed on… — Francois 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
Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The courage of a great many men, and the virtue of a great many women, are the effect of vanity, shame, and… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect of their pride; it seems to nourish and augment it; it deprives them… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough… — 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
