Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Sometimes we think we dislike flattery, but it is only the way it is done that we dislike.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

In love deceit almost always outstrips distrust.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Only the great can afford to have great defects.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If vanity does not overthrow all our virtues, at least she makes them totter

— François De La Rochefoucauld

As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

In their early passions women are in love with the lover, later they are in love with love.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Humility is often a false front we employ to gain power over others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is much better to learn to deal with the ills we have now than to speculate on those that may befall…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Some men are so full of themselves that when they fall in love, they amuse themselves rather with their own passion than…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Women's virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness for their reputation.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

However much we may distrust men's sincerity, we always believe they speak to us more sincerely than to others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The man whom no one pleases is much more unhappy than the man who pleases no one.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Men frequently do good only to give themselves opportunity of doing ill with impunity.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Gratitude, in most men, is only a strong and secret hope of greater favors.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Time's chariot-wheels make their carriage-road in the fairest face.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Commonplace minds usually condemn what is beyond the reach of their understanding.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

That which makes the vanity of others unbearable to us is that which wounds our own.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Gracefulness is to the body what understanding is to the mind.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We often pardon those that annoy us, but we cannot pardon those we annoy.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

All who know their own minds know not their own hearts.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire”

— François de La Rochefoucauld

It is not enough that we should succeed, but our friends must fail as well.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Opportunity makes us known to others, but more to ourselves.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The smallest fault of women who give themselves up to love is to love.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

If we did not have pride, we would not complain of it in others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The desire to be thought clever often prevents a man from becoming so.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Men sometimes think they hate flattery, but they hate only the manner of flattering.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Our minds are as much given to laziness as our bodies.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

He is safe who admits no one to his confidence.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld