--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is as commendable to think well of…" description: "\"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" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png" --- # It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone… ![“It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png) > “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](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 highly of oneself in solitude is admirable, but boasting to others is foolish and reveals vanity. **In simple terms:** Self‑praise alone is fine; bragging is foolish. Key Takeaway Cultivate modesty in public. Themes self‑esteem vanity humility social behavior Mood thoughtful philosophical Type maxim ethical When to use this quote - personal conduct - social interaction Key Concepts self‑reflection public perception authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance confidence and humility? - When is self‑praise appropriate? A Different Perspective Humility can be misunderstood; pride is context‑dependent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commendable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commendable/) [Commendable Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commendable-think-1847450/) [Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself/) [Oneself Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oneself-ridiculous-1847451/) [Ridiculous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridiculous/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-oneself-846069/) [Think Oneself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-oneself-387964/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [It is as proper to have pride in oneself as it ridiculous to show it to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-as-proper-to-have-pride-in-oneself-as-it-ridiculous-to-show-it/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [To speak of oneself means to lay bare one's own soul, expose it like a body to the sun. To lay bare one's own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/to-speak-of-oneself-means-to-lay-bare-one-s-own-soul-expose-it-like-a/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“The truest way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-truest-way-to-be-deceived-is-to-think-oneself-more-knowing-than/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [It's rather nice to think of oneself as a sailor bending over the map of one's mind and deciding where to go and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/it-s-rather-nice-to-think-of-oneself-as-a-sailor-bending-over-the-map/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [One trouble: to be a professional anything in the United States is to think of oneself as an expert and one's ideas as semisacred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marge-piercy/one-trouble-to-be-a-professional-anything-in-the-united-states-is-to/) [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) > [It does not seem possible to think of oneself as normal without thinking that some other kind of person is pathological,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-warner/it-does-not-seem-possible-to-think-of-oneself-as-normal-without/) [Michael Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-warner/) > [When one begins to think of oneself as growing old, one is already old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elsie-de-wolfe/when-one-begins-to-think-of-oneself-as-growing-old-one-is-already-old/) [Elsie de Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elsie-de-wolfe/) > [The most important thing is not to think very much about oneself. To investigate candidly the charge; but not fussily, not very anxiously. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-most-important-thing-is-not-to-think-very-much-about-oneself-to/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [One would always want to think of oneself as being on the side of love, ready to recognize it and wish it well -but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-hazzard/one-would-always-want-to-think-of-oneself-as-being-on-the-side-of/) [Shirley Hazzard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-hazzard/) > [That is the whole trouble with being a heretic. One usually must think out everything for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aubrey-menen/that-is-the-whole-trouble-with-being-a-heretic-one-usually-must-think/) [Aubrey Menen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aubrey-menen/) > [There's no better tonic for other people's bad ideas, than to think for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-r-burch/there-s-no-better-tonic-for-other-people-s-bad-ideas-than-to-think/) [Michael R. Burch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-r-burch/) > [“This is who she is. She is this movement here, these steps, this turn, this raising of this arm. It's a waste of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-howrey/this-is-who-she-is-she-is-this-movement-here-these-steps-this-turn/) [Meg Howrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-howrey/) > [“Hardly even does one think of oneself, but only how to escape from oneself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/hardly-even-does-one-think-of-oneself-but-only-how-to-escape-from/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [The first step towards madness is to think oneself wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-de-rojas/the-first-step-towards-madness-is-to-think-oneself-wise/) [Fernando de Rojas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-de-rojas/) ## 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 Commendable quotes > [The pursuit of perfection is frustrating and a waste of time, because nothing is ever perfect. The pursuit of excellence is commendable and worthwhile.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kulwicki/the-pursuit-of-perfection-is-frustrating-and-a-waste-of-time-because/) [Alan Kulwicki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kulwicki/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/being-good-is-commendable-but-only-when-it-is-combined-with-doing/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The Libertarians, of whom I'm rather fond, are running Harry Browne. Libertarians are, just as they claim, principled and consistent- they believe in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-libertarians-of-whom-i-m-rather-fond-are-running-harry-browne/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The rule seemed to be that a great woman must either die unwed ... or find a still greater man to marry her. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-rule-seemed-to-be-that-a-great-woman-must-either-die-unwed-or/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [It is more or less rude to scorn indiscriminately all kinds of praise; we ought to be proud of that which comes from honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/it-is-more-or-less-rude-to-scorn-indiscriminately-all-kinds-of-praise/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [The school children of New York State planted more than 200,000 trees within ten years from the time Arbor Day was recognized. Few similar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-draper/the-school-children-of-new-york-state-planted-more-than-200-000-trees/) [Andrew S. Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-draper/) > [One of the most popular narcotics to ease the pain of economy is cherishing the belief that better days are ahead. 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Herein taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hall/neutrality-in-things-good-or-evil-is-both-odious-and-prejudicial-but/) [Joseph Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hall/) > [“A service commendable is a service worth recommending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/a-service-commendable-is-a-service-worth-recommending/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [The confidence that we Indians are suddenly infused with while doing something wrong is absolutely commendable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/the-confidence-that-we-indians-are-suddenly-infused-with-while-doing/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) [Browse all 63 Commendable quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commendable/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-oneself-when-alone-as-it-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commendable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-oneself-when-alone-as-it-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_commendable_it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-on_1779291.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among…” — Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is as commendable to think...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-oneself-when-alone-as-it-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-as-commendable-to-think-well-of-oneself-when-alone-as-it-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```