There are reproaches which praise, and praises which defame. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Criticism sometimes is really praise, and praise sometimes slander. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
To praise great actions is in some sense to share them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We sometimes condemn the present, by praising the past; and show our contempt of what is now, by our esteem for what… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
None deserve praise for being good who have not the spirit to be bad: goodness, for the most part, is nothing but… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We own up to minor failings, but only so as to convince others that we have no major ones. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them. — 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
If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure in noticing those in others. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The exceeding delight we take in talking about ourselves should give us cause to fear that we are giving but very little… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Praise is a more ingenious, concealed, and subtle kind of flattery, that satisfies both the giver and the receiver, though by verydifferent… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit,… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Nothing should lessen our satisfaction with ourselves as much as when we notice that we disapprove of something at one time that… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We are not fond of praising, and never praise any one except from interested motives. Praise is a clever, concealed, and delicate… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
He who refuses praise the first time that it is offered does so because he would hear it a second time. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others. — François De La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others. — 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
Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We wish to attract praise to ourselves even as we seem to be praising others — François De La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The praise we give to new comers into the world arises from the envy we bear to those who are established. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to… — 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
There is no praise we have not lavished upon prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling event. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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
Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“If we had no faults we should not take so much pleasure in noting those of others.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We often make use of envenomed praise, that reveals on the rebound, as it were, defects in those praised which we dare… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves. — 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
