Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Self-interest makes some people blind, and others sharp-sighted.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are no accidents so unlucky but the prudent may draw some advantage from them.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We say little, when vanity does not make us speak.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Our temper sets a price upon every gift that we receive from fortune.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

In infants, levity is a prettiness; in men a shameful defect; but in old age, a monstrous folly.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Some beautiful things are more dazzling when they are still imperfect than when they have been too perfectly crafted.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are some persons who only disgust with their abilities, there are persons who please even with their faults.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

A man convinced of his own merit will accept misfortune as an honor, for thus can he persuade others, as well as…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Self-love is the love of a man's own self, and of everything else for his own sake. It makes people idolaters to…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The good or the bad fortune of men depends not less upon their own dispositions than upon fortune.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

As we grow older, we increase in folly--and in wisdom.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We like to read others but we do not like to be read.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Mediocre minds usually dismiss anything which reaches beyond their own understanding.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

He that would be a great man must learn to turn every accident to some advantage.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined thoughts.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There is only one kind of love, but there are one thousand imitations

— François De La Rochefoucauld

What we cut off from our other faults is very often but so much added to our pride.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand imitations.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is easy to be wise on behalf of others than to be so for ourselves.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Men more easily renounce their interests than their tastes.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be miserable.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Virtue would go far if vanity did not keep it company.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When our hatred is too alive puts us below what we hate.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is safer to do most men harm than to do them too much good.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are good marriages, but there are no delightful ones.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When our hatred is violent, it sinks us even beneath those we hate.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

In love deceit nearly always goes further than mistrust.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The gallantry of the mind consists in agreeable flattery.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld