---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It requires no small degree of ability to…"
description: "\"It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal one's ability.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_ability_it-requires-no-small-degree-of-ability-t_1573761.png"
---

#  It requires no small degree of ability to know when to…

![“It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal one's ability.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_ability_it-requires-no-small-degree-of-ability-t_1573761.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_ability_it-requires-no-small-degree-of-ability-t_1573761.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/852/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_ability_it-requires-no-small-degree-of-ability-t_1573761.png)

> “It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal one's ability.”

[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.

Strategic modesty hides talent, preserving advantage and humility.

**In simple terms:** Concealing skill can be wise.

Key Takeaway

Know when to hide ability.

Themes

strategy humility social dynamics

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

philosophical practical

When to use this quote

- career advancement
- political negotiation
- team leadership
- personal relationships

Key Concepts

psychology self-presentation

Questions to Reflect On

- When is it better to reveal your skill?
- How does modesty affect trust?

A Different Perspective

Overuse may lead to missed opportunities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/)

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> [The greatest part of our faults are more excusable than the methods that are commonly taken to conceal them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-part-of-our-faults-are-more-excusable-than-the-methods/)

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> [However we may conceal our passions under the veil ... there is always some place where they peep out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/however-we-may-conceal-our-passions-under-the-veil-there-is-always/)

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> [The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-height-of-cleverness-is-to-be-able-to-conceal-it/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/most-of-our-faults-are-more-pardonable-than-the-means-we-use-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Ability to find the answers is more important than ability to know the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/ability-to-find-the-answers-is-more-important-than-ability-to-know/)

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> [It is often said that the magnitude of a people is measured by their ability to know how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-eduardo-dos-santos/it-is-often-said-that-the-magnitude-of-a-people-is-measured-by-their/)

[Jose Eduardo Dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-eduardo-dos-santos/)

> [I know my ability and I know what I can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lallana/i-know-my-ability-and-i-know-what-i-can-give/)

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> [Our ability to know about ourselves and the world is what makes us human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/our-ability-to-know-about-ourselves-and-the-world-is-what-makes-us/)

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> [“Claircognizance is the ability to know without trying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lada-ray/claircognizance-is-the-ability-to-know-without-trying/)

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> [I am confident in my own ability and I know I can put it in the back of the net.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-barnes/i-am-confident-in-my-own-ability-and-i-know-i-can-put-it-in-the-back/)

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> [I have the ability to know the Truth, and the Truth will set me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/i-have-the-ability-to-know-the-truth-and-the-truth-will-set-me-free/)

[Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/)

## 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/)

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[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/)

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> [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/)

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