Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Bravery in simple soldiers is a dangerous trade, to which they have bound themselves to get their livelihood. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“Perfect valour is to do without witnesses what one would do before all the world.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Perfect courage and utter cowardice are two extremes which rarely occur. — 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
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
We are much mistaken if we think that men are always brave from a principle of valor, or women chaste from a… — 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
Love of glory, fear of shame, greed for fortune, the desire to make life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to depreciate… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
What we take for virtue is often but an assemblage of various ambitions and activities that chance, or our own astuteness, have… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Some allow themselves to be overcome by panic, and others charge because they dare not remain at their posts. Some may be… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“True Valour would do all that, when alone, that it could do, if all the World were by.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
True bravery means doing alone that which one could do if all the world were by. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should not be much concerned about faults we have the courage to own. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We can never be certain of our courage until we have faced danger… — 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
