Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Were we not proud ourselves, we should not complain of the pride of others. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer Him His sacrifices. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should desire very few things passionately if we did but perfectly know the nature of the things we desire. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The measure of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should not judge a man's merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
No matter how brilliant an action, it should not be considered great unless it was the result of a great motive. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Unfaithfulness ought to extinguish love, and we should not be jealous when there is reason to be. Only those who give no… — 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
Gratitude is like credit; it is the backbone of our relations; frequently we pay our debts not because equity demands that we… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The passions possess a certain injustice and self interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should distrust… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means.… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Truth is the foundation and the reason of the perfection of beauty, for of whatever stature a thing may be, it cannot… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
One should treat one's fate as one does one's health; enjoy it when it is good, be patient with it when it… — 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
A wise man should order his interests, and set them all in their proper places. This order is often troubled by greed,… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“We should not be upset that others hide the truth from us, when we hide it so often from ourselves.” — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor. — 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
We should only affect compassion, and carefully avoid having any. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Before strongly desiring anything, we should look carefully into the happiness of its present owner. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should wish for few things with eagerness, if we perfectly knew the nature of that which was the object of our… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should often blush at our noblest deeds if the world were to see all their underlying motives. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We should not be much concerned about faults we have the courage to own. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are few occasions when we should make a bad bargain by giving up the good on condition that no ill was… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A certain harmony should be kept between actions and ideas if we want to fully develop the effects they can produce. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
The extreme delight we experience in talking about ourselves should warn us that those who listen do not share it. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The extreme pleasure we take in speaking of ourselves should make us apprehensive that it gives hardly any to those who listen… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is not enough that we should succeed, but our friends must fail as well. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The only thing that should astonish us is that anything can yet astonish us. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die. — 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
It is not enough to have great qualities; We should also have the management of them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us. — 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
