Character Quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

The qualities we have, make us so ridiculous as those which we affect.

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“When principles are so absurd and so destructive of human society, it may safely be averred, that the more sincere and the more disinterested…

— David Hume

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

— Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“...the danger that American society as a whole will over-esteem intellect or assign it such a transcendent value as to displace other legitimate values…

— Richard Hofstadter

While we are indifferent to our good qualities, we keep on deceiving ourselves in regard to our faults, until we come to look on…

— Heinrich Heine

[L]et us work to rid ourselves of our attacks of over-zealousness especially when it offends against respect, esteem, and charity.

— Vincent de Paul

“Most writers on the emotions and on human conduct seem to be treating rather of matters outside nature than of natural phenomena following nature's…

— Baruch Spinoza

“Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.”

— Samuel Johnson

Absurdity is one of the most human things about us: a manifestation of our most advanced and interesting characteristics.

— Thomas Nagel

“You need to develop a fierce intolerance of badness of any kind, regardless of its severity.”

— Ray Dalio

L'absurde est la notion essentielle et la premie' re ve? rite? . The absurd is the fundamental idea and the first truth.

— Albert Camus

People of our time are so formed for agitation and ostentation that goodness, moderation, equability, constancy, and such quiet and obscure qualities are no…

— Michel de Montaigne