Desire Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“Nothing prevents us being natural so much as the desire to appear so.”

— François de La Rochefoucauld

“The desire to be pitied or to be admired often forms the greater part of our confidence.”

— François de La Rochefoucauld

The desire to seem clever often keeps us from being so.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The desire to be thought clever often prevents a man from becoming so.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Men never desire anything very eagerly which they desire only by the dictates of reason.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When we exaggerate our friends' tenderness towards us, it is often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The contempt of riches in the philosophers was a concealed desire of revenging on fortune the injustice done to their merit, by…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Reconciliation with our enemies is simply a desire to better our condition, a weariness of war, or the fear of some unlucky…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

In the human heart new passions are forever being born; the overthrow of one almost always means the rise of another.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The moderation of men in the most exalted fortunes is a desire to be thought above those things that have raised them…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

We label judges with having the meanest motives, and yet we desire that our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The most clever and polite are content with only seeming attentive while we perceive in their mind and eyes that at the…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When we enlarge upon the affection our friends have for us, this is very often not so much out of a sense…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune;…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When we seek reconciliation with our enemies, it is commonly out of a desire to better our own condition, a being harassed…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Virtue is the habit of acting according to wisdom. GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ, "Felicity", Leibniz: Political Writings Virtue is harder to be got…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We never desire strongly, what we desire rationally.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The greatest part of intimate confidences proceed from a desire either to be pitied or admired.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Civility is a desire to receive civilities, and to be accounted well-bred.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We do not wish ardently for what we desire only through reason.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We should wish for few things with eagerness, if we perfectly knew the nature of that which was the object of our…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having seen, makes up a good part of…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld