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
Everyone takes pleasure in returning small obligations, many people acknowledge moderate ones; but there are only a scarce few who do not… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Some people are so extremely whiffling and inconsiderable that they are as far from any real faults as from substantial virtues. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough… — 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
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
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 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
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
