To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that… — 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
More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Men and things have each their proper perspective; to judge rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
None but great men are capable of having great flaws. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The fame of great men ought to be judged always by their big, fancy names. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There is scarcely any man sufficiently clever to appreciate all the evil he does. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Humility is the sure evidence of Christian virtues. Without it, we retain all our faults still, and they are only covered over… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The man whom no one pleases is much more unhappy than the man who pleases no one. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Men are inconsolable concerning the treachery of their friends or the deceptions of their enemies; and yet they are often very highly… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Very few people are acquainted with death. They undergo it, commonly, not so much out of resolution as custom and insensitivity; and… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A man cannot please long who has only one kind of wit. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Hope is the last thing that dies in man; and though it be exceedingly deceitful, yet it is of this good use… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
No man can love a second time the person whom he has once truly ceased to love. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Pity is a sense of our own misfortunes in those of another man; it is a sort of foresight of the disasters… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are but very few men clever enough to know all the mischief they do. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Most people know no other way of judging men's worth but by the vogue they are in, or the fortunes they have… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A man often thinks he rules himself, when all the while he is ruled and managed; and while his understanding directs one… — 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
