Our wisdom is no less at fortune's mercy than our wealth. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
Fortune converts everything to the advantage of her favorites. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Fortune cures us of many faults that reason could not. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The caprice of our temper is even more whimsical than that of Fortune. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When fortune surprises us by giving us some great office without having gradually led us to expect it, or without having raised… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Happy people rarely correct their faults; they consider themselves vindicated, since fortune endorses their evil ways. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Fortunate persons hardly ever amend their ways: they always imagine that they are in the right when fortune upholds their bad conduct. — 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
Men's happiness and misery depends altogether as much upon their own humor as it does upon fortune. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Moderation in people who are contented comes from that calm that good fortune lends to their spirit. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
No one thinks fortune so blind as those she has been least kind to. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
To be a great man it is necessary to know how to profit by the whole of our good fortune. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 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
The moderation of people in prosperity is the effect of a smooth and composed temper, owing to the calm of their good… — 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
The greater part of mankind judge of men only by their fashionableness or their fortune. — 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 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 contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune, by despising… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The whimsicalness of our own humor is a thousand times more fickle and unaccountable than what we blame so much in fortune. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the… — 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
