There is always enough self-love hidden beneath the greatest devoutness to set limits on charity. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Charity Copy Share Image
Study and research into truth often only serves to make us see by experience our natural ignorance. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Education Copy Share Image
It is a very common failing, never to be pleased with our fortune nor displeased with our character. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Character Copy Share Image
We need not regard what good a friend has done us, but only his desire to do us good. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Desire Copy Share Image
It is vain and useless to survey everything that goes on in the world if our study does not help us mend… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
It is a singular characteristic of love that we cannot hide it where it exists, or pretend it where it does not… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
It is base to take advantage of our rank or greatness by making fun of those placed beneath us in life. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Advantage Copy Share Image
The foolish acts of others ought to serve more as a lesson to us than an occasion to laugh at those who… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
It is an admirable skill to able to sweeten a refusal with civil words which atone for the favor which we are… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
The conversation of those who like to lord it over us is very disagreeable. But we should always be ready to graciously… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
Good results are sometimes owing to a failure of judgment, because the faculty of judgment often hinders us from undertaking many things… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Decision making Copy Share Image
We learn as much by others' failings as by their teachings. Examples of imperfection is just as useful for achieving perfection as… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
Although we should not love our friends for the good that they do us, it is a sign that they do not… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Friends Copy Share Image
Mean-spirited mediocrities, especially those with a smattering of learning, are the most likely to be opinionated. Only strong minds know how to… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
When an opinionated person starts to challenge something, his mind shuts out all that could clear up the matter. The argument irritates… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Argument Copy Share Image
Pettiness of mind, ignorance and presumption are the cause of stubbornness, because stubborn people only want to believe what they themselves can… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Belief Copy Share Image
Self-love makes us deceive ourselves in almost all matters, to censure others, and to blame them for the same faults that we… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
In knowledge of human affairs, we should never allow our minds to be enslaved by others by subjecting ourselves to their whims.… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
Good fortune almost always makes some change in a man's behavior - in his manner of speaking and acting. It is a… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Acting Copy Share Image
The maxims of Christian life, which should draw upon the truths of the Gospel, are always partially symbolic of the mind and… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Christian Copy Share Image
There is a certain manner of self-absorption in speaking that always renders the speaker disagreeable. For it is as great a folly… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
Love is always master everywhere. It shapes the soul, the heart, and the mind wherever it exists. What matters is not the… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
True merit does not depend on the times or on fashion. Those who have no other advantage than courtly manners lose it… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Advantage Copy Share Image
We are more put off by people who parade their dignity than by people who show off their wardrobes. When people have… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Attention Copy Share Image
Nothing can tell us so much about the general lawlessness of humanity as a perfect acquaintance with our own immoderate behavior. If… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Acquaintance Copy Share Image
There is nothing that does not have something perfect in it; and it is the happiness of good taste to be able… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
All the great amusements are dangerous for the Christian life. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Amusement Copy Share Image
When people reproach us, they only increase their own failings even as they are disclaiming them. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
This imperiousness which aids us in all things is merely a fitting authority which comes from superior spirit. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
Instead of taking care to acquaint ourselves with others, we only think of making ourselves known to them. It would be better… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Care Copy Share Image
Self-love is even deceived by self-love, because by looking out for our own interests and disregarding those of other people, we lose… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Advantage Copy Share Image
Social intercourse, even friendship among most people, is a merely a business arrangement that lasts only so long as there is need. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Arrangements Copy Share Image
Virtue is not always where it seems to be. People sometimes acknowledge favors only to maintain their reputations, and to make themselves… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
Sometimes we praise the way things used to be in order to blame the present, and we esteem what is no longer… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
We prefer people who are trying to imitate us more than those who are trying to equal us. This is because imitation… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Desire Copy Share Image
We must accustom ourselves to the follies of others and not be astonished at the foolishness that takes place in our presence. — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Folly Copy Share Image
It is sometimes useful to pretend we are deceived, because when we show a deceiving man that we see through his artifices,… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Anarchy Copy Share Image
Although most friendships that exist do not merit the name, we can nevertheless make use of them in accordance with our needs,… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Copy Share Image
It is such a great fault to talk too much that, in business and conversation, if what is good is also brief,… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Brevity Copy Share Image
We would often rather seem dutiful to others than to succeed in our duties; and often we would rather tell our friends… — Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable Actuality Copy Share Image
