Activity Quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
“What we take for virtue is often but an assemblage of various ambitions and activities that chance, or our own astuteness, have arranged in a certain manner; and it is not always out of courage or purity that men are brave, and women chaste.”
About This Quote
Virtue often masks personal ambitions; bravery and chastity may stem from motives other than pure courage or purity.
In simple terms: Virtue can hide self‑interest.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind actions.
Themes
virtue
motivation
morality
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- leadership
- personal relationships
- political decisions
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
ethical psychology
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your brave acts?
- Do you see virtue in others?
A Different Perspective
Not all noble acts are purely altruistic.
![“A tribute . . . is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism, which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt [the Constitution]. In these honorable qualifications I behold the surest pledges that as on one side no local prejudices or attachments no separate views, nor party…” quote by George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afb/george-washington-257_animosity_a-tribute-is-due-to-the-talents-the-rect_331519.jpg)
