Praise Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Usually we praise only to be praised.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Criticism sometimes is really praise, and praise sometimes slander.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are reproaches which praise, and praises which defame.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others.

— François De La Rochefoucauld

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

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

If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure in noticing those in others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some reproaches praise; some praises reproach.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

To praise great actions is in some sense to share them.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

We wish to attract praise to ourselves even as we seem to be praising others

— François De La Rochefoucauld

Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We own up to minor failings, but only so as to convince others that we have no major ones.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

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

To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free from great ones.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

That man, we may be sure, is a person of true worth, whom those who envy him most are yet forced to…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful to praise which is treacherous.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld