The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The passions of youth are not more dangerous to health than is the lukewarmness of old age. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones; just as the wind blows out candles, but kindles fires. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The health of the soul is something we can be no more sure of than that of the body; and though a… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness,… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
All the passions are nothing else than different degrees of heat and cold of the blood. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Men never desire anything very eagerly which they desire only by the dictates of reason. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
If we resist our passions, it is more due to their weakness than our strength. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The heart of man ever finds a constant succession of passions, so that the destroying and pulling down of one proves generally… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The pleasure of love is in loving; we are happier in the passion we feel than in what we inspire. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Men are often so foolish as to boast and value themselves upon their passions, even those that are most vicious. But envy… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of a passion it is proner to take up a new one than… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Indolence, languid as it is, often masters both passions and virtues. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It appears that nature has hid at the bottom of our hearts talents and abilities unknown to us. It is only the… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The reason why most women have so little sense of friendship is that this is but a cold and flat passion to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
In their early passions women are in love with the lover, later they are in love with love. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Passion often makes a fool of the cleverest man and often makes the most foolish men clever — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Great and glorious events which dazzle the beholder are represented by politicians as the outcome of grand designs whereas they are usually… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Women can less easily surmount their coquetry than their passions. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When the soul is ruffled by the remains of one passion, it is more disposed to entertain a new one than when… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
All the passions make us commit faults; love makes us commit the most ridiculous ones. — 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
