If we had no faults, we would not derive so much pleasure from noting those of other people. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are no circumstances, however unfortunate, that clever people do not extract some advantage from. — 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
It's easier to know people in general than one person in particular — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Some people resemble ballads which are only sung for a certain time. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Self-interest makes some people blind, and others sharp-sighted. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Happiness does not consist in things themselves but in the relish we have of them; and a man has attained it when… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms inside your head, and people in them, acting. People you know, yet can't quite name. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The generality of friends puts us out of conceit with friendship; just as the generality of religious people puts us out of… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each is thinking more about what he intends to say… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Humility is often only a feigned submissiveness by which men hope to bring other people to submit to them; it is a… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are no accidents so unlucky from which clever people are not able to reap some advantage, and none so lucky that… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Self-love is the love of a man's own self, and of everything else for his own sake. It makes people idolaters to… — 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
We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
What makes us so bitter against people who outwit us is that they think themselves cleverer than we are. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Some weak people are so sensible of their weakness as to be able to make a good use of it. — 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
A man seldom finds people unthankful, as long as he remains in a condition of benefiting them further. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We seldom find people ungrateful so long as it is thought we can serve them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Most people judge men by their success or their good fortune. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We bear, all of us, the misfortunes of other people with heroic constancy. — 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
People would not long remain in social life if they were not the dupes of each other. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Plenty of people want to be pious, but no one yearns to be humble. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are few people more convinced of their own genius than those who complain of how stupid they are. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are few people who would not be ashamed of being loved when they love no longer. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Old people are fond of giving good advice; it consoles them for no longer being capable of setting a bad example. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
People always complain about their memories, never about their minds. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Many people despise wealth, but few know how to give it away. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The same strength of character which helps a man resist love, helps to make it more violent and lasting too. People of… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The breeding we give young people is ordinarily but an additional self-love, by which we make them have a better opinion of… — 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
Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
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
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
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
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
It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share
We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share