Men frequently do good only to give themselves opportunity of doing ill with impunity. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is not always for virtue's sake that women are virtuous. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It requires greater virtues to support good fortune than bad. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Self-love, as it happens to be well or ill conducted, constitutes virtue and vice. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Virtue would go far if vanity did not keep it company. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
For the credit of virtue we must admit that the greatest misfortunes of men are those into which they fall through their… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Vices are ingredients of virtues just as poisons are ingredients of remedies. Prudence mixes and tempers them and uses them effectively against… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When we exaggerate our friends' tenderness towards us, it is often less from gratitude than from a desire to exhibit our own… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are some faults which, when well managed, make a greater figure than virtue itself. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Women's virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness for their reputation. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Clemency, which we make a virtue of, proceeds sometimes from vanity, sometimes from indolence, often from fear, and almost always from a… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Humility is the sure evidence of Christian virtues. Without it, we retain all our faults still, and they are only covered over… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
What we take for virtue is often but an assemblage of various ambitions and activities that chance, or our own astuteness, have… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The vices enter into the composition of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. Prudence collects and arranges them, and uses… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Of all our faults, the one we avow most easily is idleness; we persuade ourselves that it is allied to all the… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
“What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions and diverse interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage… — François de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is a mistake to imagine, that the violent passions only, such as ambition and love, can triumph over the rest. Idleness,… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Virtue is the habit of acting according to wisdom. GOTTFRIED WILHELM LEIBNIZ, "Felicity", Leibniz: Political Writings Virtue is harder to be got… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is a mighty error to suppose that none but violent and strong passions, such as love and ambition, are able to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We endeavor to make a virtue of the faults we are unwilling to correct. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The word virtue is as useful to self-interest as the vices. — 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
Virtue would not go to such lengths if vanity did not keep her company — François De La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Fortune makes our virtues and vices visible, just as light does the objects of sight. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are certain defects which, well-mounted, glitter like virtue itself. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
When our vices desert us, we flatter ourselves that we are deserting our vices. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Virtues lose themselves in self-interest, as rivers in the sea. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
If vanity does not entirely overthrow the virtues, at least it makes them all totter. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Indolence, languid as it is, often masters both passions and virtues. — 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
