Women's virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness for their reputation. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Our enemies' opinion of us comes closer to the truth than our own. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“Virtues are lost in self interest as rivers are lost in the sea.” — Francois de la Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Whilst weakness and timidity keep us to our duty, virtue has often all the honor. — 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
Virtue would not make such advances if there were not a little vanity to keep it company. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Moral severity in women is only a dress or paint which they use to set off their beauty. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The vices enter into the composition of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. Prudence collects and arranges them, and uses… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Self-love, as it happens to be well or ill conducted, constitutes virtue and vice. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Indolence, languid as it is, often masters both passions and virtues. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Of all our faults, the one we avow most easily is idleness; we persuade ourselves that it is allied to all the… — 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
Moderation is represented as a virtue in order to restrain the ambition of great men, and to console those of a meaner… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions and diverse interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage… — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our… — 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
To praise princes for virtues they are lacking in is a way of insulting them with impunity — François De La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise. — 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 Image
Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
