We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor of women; but they do not all practice it, because the coquetry of… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We promise in proportion to our hopes, and we deliver in proportion to our fears. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Clemency, which we make a virtue of, proceeds sometimes from vanity, sometimes from indolence, often from fear, and almost always from a… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
None deserve praise for being good who have not the spirit to be bad: goodness, for the most part, is nothing but… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The exceeding delight we take in talking about ourselves should give us cause to fear that we are giving but very little… — Francois 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
Hope and fear are inseparable. There is no hope without fear, nor any fear without hope. — 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
Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 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
Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can; and when once you take hope and fear away, you… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
Those who are condemned to death affect sometimes a constancy and contempt for death which is only the fear of facing it;… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the… — Francois 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
