--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He that fancies such a sufficiency in…" description: "\"He that fancies such a sufficiency in himself that he can live without all the world is greatly mistaken; but he that imagines himself so necessary tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deals_he-that-fancies-such-a-sufficiency-in-hi_2104129.png" --- # He that fancies such a sufficiency in himself that he can… ![“He that fancies such a sufficiency in himself that he can live without all the world is greatly mistaken; but he that imagines himself so necessary that other people cannot live without him is a great deal more mistaken.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deals_he-that-fancies-such-a-sufficiency-in-hi_2104129.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deals_he-that-fancies-such-a-sufficiency-in-hi_2104129.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97c/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deals_he-that-fancies-such-a-sufficiency-in-hi_2104129.png) > “He that fancies such a sufficiency in himself that he can live without all the world is greatly mistaken; but he that imagines himself so necessary that other people cannot live without him is a great deal more mistaken.” [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking you are either indispensable or irrelevant is a false dichotomy; both extremes ignore interdependence. **In simple terms:** Both extremes are mistaken. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and recognize mutual reliance. Themes humility interdependence ego social perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - teamwork - personal growth - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing your interdependence change your relationships? - What risks arise from believing you are indispensable? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑importance can blind you to collaborative value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Greatly Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatly-mistaken-4216718/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Imagines Necessary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagines-necessary-2915501/) [Mistaken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken/) [Mistaken Imagines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistaken-imagines-4216719/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Solitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitude/) [Sufficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufficiency/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Greatly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-greatly-4216720/) ## Related quotes > [“he said that in an case the past was little more than a dream and its force in the world was greatly exaggerated. for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/he-said-that-in-an-case-the-past-was-little-more-than-a-dream-and-its/) [cormac mccarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [“He imagines a necessary joy in things that must fly to eat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/he-imagines-a-necessary-joy-in-things-that-must-fly-to-eat/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [We are much mistaken if we think that men are always brave from a principle of valor, or women chaste from a principle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-much-mistaken-if-we-think-that-men-are-always-brave-from-a/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/he-who-imagines-he-can-do-without-the-world-deceives-himself-much-but/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The myth of the self-sufficient individual and of the self-sufficient, protected, and protective familytells us that those who need help are ultimately inadequate. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-keniston/the-myth-of-the-self-sufficient-individual-and-of-the-self-sufficient/) [Kenneth Keniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-keniston/) > [We in the West seem to have made a fetish out of complete individual self-sufficiency, of not needing help, of being completely private except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/we-in-the-west-seem-to-have-made-a-fetish-out-of-complete-individual/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [In many cases, mathematics is an escape from reality. The mathematician finds his own monastic niche and happiness in pursuits that are disconnected from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-ulam/in-many-cases-mathematics-is-an-escape-from-reality-the-mathematician/) [Stanislaw Ulam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-ulam/) > [“Should it happen, that your partner leaves you for someone else with more money. To where later you strike it richer than the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/should-it-happen-that-your-partner-leaves-you-for-someone-else-with/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [The requisites of government are that there be sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-requisites-of-government-are-that-there-be-sufficiency-of-food/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [No, no; 'tis all men's office to speak patience To those that wring under the load of sorrow, But no man's virtue nor sufficiency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-no-tis-all-men-s-office-to-speak-patience-to-those-that-wring/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [We need to develop a sense of sufficiency to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satish-kumar/we-need-to-develop-a-sense-of-sufficiency-to-be-happy/) [Satish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satish-kumar/) > [Self-sufficiency is the enemy of salvation. If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God. If you have no need of God, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-nicholson/self-sufficiency-is-the-enemy-of-salvation-if-you-are-self-sufficient/) [William Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-nicholson/) > [Annual earnings in the fast-food industry are well below the income needed for self-sufficiency, and fast-food industry jobs are also much less likely than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rolf/annual-earnings-in-the-fast-food-industry-are-well-below-the-income/) [David Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rolf/) > [Development of character consists solely in moving toward self-sufficiency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/development-of-character-consists-solely-in-moving-toward-self/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld > [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/) [François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-sometimes-necessary-to-play-the-fool-to-avoid-being-deceived-by/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The intention of never deceiving often exposes us to deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-intention-of-never-deceiving-often-exposes-us-to-deception/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-springs-more-from-love-of-self-than-from-love-of-another/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our distrust of another justifies his deceit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-distrust-of-another-justifies-his-deceit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/no-persons-are-more-frequently-wrong-than-those-who-will-not-admit/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) [Explore all 1,134 Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. We're concerned about government corruption, government handing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/right-now-we-re-concerned-about-budget-right-now-we-re-concerned/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. 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