Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is almost always a fault of one who loves not to realize when he ceases to be loved.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

To be a great man it is necessary to turn to account all opportunities.

— 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

A respectable man may love madly, but not foolishly.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

To be a great man it is necessary to know how to profit by the whole of our good fortune.

— 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

A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

We are eager to believe that others are flawed because we are eager to believe in what we wish for.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

A fool has not material enough to be good. [Fr., Un sot n'a pas assez d'etoffe pour etre bon.]

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The intellect of the generality of women serves more to fortify their folly than their reason.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The boldest stroke and best act of friendship is not to disclose our own failings to a friend, but to show him…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The ambitious deceive themselves in proposing an end to their ambition; that end, when attained, becomes a means.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The health of the soul is as precarious as that of the body; for when we seem secure from passions, we are…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Humility is often merely feigned submissiveness assumed in order to subject others, an artifice of pride which stoops to conquer, and although…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Moderation cannot have the credit of combatiug and subduing ambition, they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and indolence of…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The tranquility or agitation of our temper does not depend so much on the big things which happen to us in life,…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Intrepidity is an extraordinary strength of soul, which raises it above the troubles, disorders and emotions which the sight of great perils…

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

In love deceit almost always outstrips distrust.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— 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

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

— François De La Rochefoucauld

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— 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

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

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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

— François 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