Ifs Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we are incapable of finding peace in ourselves, it is pointless to search elsewhere.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If a man doesn't find ease in himself, 'tis in vain to seek it elsewhere.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If it were not for poetry, few men would ever fall in love.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If one judges love by the majority of its effects, it is more like hatred than like friendship.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

People would not long remain in social life if they were not the dupes of each other.

— 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

If we did not have pride, we would not complain of it in others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If vanity does not entirely overthrow the virtues, at least it makes them all totter.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

Folly pursues us at all periods of our lives. If someone seems wise it is only because his follies are proportionate to…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we took as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to deceive others by disguising what we are;…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If one judges love according to the greatest part of the effects it produces, it would appear to resemble rather hatred than…

— 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

It may be said that the vices await us in the journey of life like hosts with whom we must successively lodge;…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are persons whose only merit consists in saying and doing stupid things at the right time, and who ruin all if…

— 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

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

We are deceived if we think that mind and judgment are two different matters: judgment is but the extent of the light…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If you cannot find peace in yourself, it is useless to look for it elsewhere.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we want to fully develop the effects they can produce.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are some who never would have loved if they never had heard it spoken of.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Silence is the safest policy if you are unsure of yourself.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If one acts rightly and honestly, it is difficult to decide whether it is the effect of integrity or skill.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Virtue would not make such advances if there were not a little vanity to keep it company.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Men would not live in society long if they were not each others dupes.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We should often blush at our noblest deeds if the world were to see all their underlying motives.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we had no faults, we would not derive so much pleasure from noting those of other people.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

True bravery means doing alone that which one could do if all the world were by.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld