Old people love to give good advice; it compensates them for their inability to set a bad example. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Advice Copy Share Image
The moderation of men in the most exalted fortunes is a desire to be thought above those things that have raised them… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Desire Copy Share Image
It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit,… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Nothing hinders a thing from being natural so much as the straining ourselves to make it seem so. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
We are much harder on people who betray us in small ways than on people who betray others in great ones. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold, than of the office which one fills. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; we are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Happiness Copy Share Image
As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Wits Copy Share Image
The reason we do not let our friends see the very bottom of our hearts is not so much distrust of them… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The courage of a great many men, and the virtue of a great many women, are the effect of vanity, shame, and… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Bravery Copy Share Image
The constancy of sages is nothing but the art of locking up their agitation in their hearts. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Agitation Copy Share Image
Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Some disguised deceits counterfeit truth so perfectly that not to be taken in by them would be an error of judgment. — 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 Apprehensive Copy Share Image
We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free from great ones. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Those who have the most cunning affect all their lives to condemn cunning; that they may make use of it on some… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
There are some people upon whom their very faults and failings sit gracefully; and there are others whose very excellencies and accomplishments… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Accomplishment Copy Share Image
To establish yourself in the world a person must do all they can to appear already established. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Accidents Copy Share Image
The most effectual way to be deceived is to believe oneself more cunning than one's neighbors. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Things often offer themselves to our mind in a more finished form in the very first thought, than we might have made… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Education 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
Even the most disinterested love is, after all, but a kind of bargain, in which self-love always proposes to be the gainer… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Bargains Copy Share Image
However great the advantages given us by nature, it is not she alone, but fortune with her, which makes heroes. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Advantage Copy Share Image
People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Everyone takes pleasure in returning small obligations, many people acknowledge moderate ones; but there are only a scarce few who do not… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
Nothing is more ridiculous in old people that were once good-looking, than to forget that they are not so still. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Age Copy Share Image
That man, we may be sure, is a person of true worth, whom those who envy him most are yet forced to… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Envy Copy Share Image
True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Bravery Copy Share Image
Nothing is rarer than true good nature; they who are reputed to have it are generally only pliant or weak. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Good nature Copy Share Image
Whatever pretext we may give for our affections, often it is only interest and vanity which cause them. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Affection Copy Share Image
Fortunate persons hardly ever amend their ways: they always imagine that they are in the right when fortune upholds their bad conduct. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
The reason that lovers never weary each other is because they are always talking about themselves. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Love Copy Share Image
The art of using moderate abilities to advantage often brings greater results than actual brilliance — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Abilities Copy Share Image
If there be a love pure and free from the admixture of our other passions, it is that which lies hidden in… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Copy Share Image
What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Action Copy Share Image
The sicknesses of the soul have their ups and downs like those of the body; what we take to be a cure… — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Body Copy Share Image
A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter. — Francois de La Rochefoucauld Desire Copy Share Image
