The only thing that should astonish us is that anything can yet astonish us. — 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
It is not enough that we should succeed, but our friends must fail as well. — 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
If we never flattered ourselves we should have but scant pleasure. — 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
We should only affect compassion, and carefully avoid having any. — 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
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
We acknowledge that we should not talk of our wives; but we seem not to know that we should talk still less… — 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
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
We should often blush for our very best actions, if the world did but see all the motives upon which they were… — 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 often pay our debts not because it is only fair that we should, but to make future loans easier. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. The glory of great men… — 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
Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy.… — 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
Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we… — 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
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
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
We label judges with having the meanest motives, and yet we desire that our reputation and fame should depend upon the judgment… — 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
Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor. — 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
“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
It is not enough to have great qualities; We should also have the management of them. — 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
Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer Him His sacrifices. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it. — 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 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
There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted. — 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
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
We should scarcely desire things ardently if we were perfectly acquainted with what we desire. — 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
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
