--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Luxury and excessive refinement are sure…" description: "\"Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all individuals seek their own interests they neglect the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png" --- # Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of… ![“Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all individuals seek their own interests they neglect the public weal.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png) > “Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all individuals seek their own interests they neglect the public weal.” [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. Excessive luxury and self‑interest erode public welfare, leading to state decadence. **In simple terms:** Luxury and selfishness harm the common good. Key Takeaway Balance personal ambition with civic responsibility. Themes luxury self‑interest public welfare state decay Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy making - urban planning - community projects - educational curricula Key Concepts political philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies enjoy comfort while protecting the common good? - What policies curb selfish excess? A Different Perspective Some argue luxury can fund public projects if regulated. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decadence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence/) [Decadence States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence-states-2441790/) [Excessive Refinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excessive-refinement-2441793/) [Forerunners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forerunners/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Interests Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests-neglect-2441792/) [Lifestyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lifestyle/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Luxury Excessive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury-excessive-2441791/) [Neglect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglect/) [Refinement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refinement/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [Real knowledge never promoted either turbulence or unbelief; but its progress is the forerunner of liberality and enlightened toleration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/real-knowledge-never-promoted-either-turbulence-or-unbelief-but-its/) [Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-brougham-1st-baron-brougham-and-vaux/) > [The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. 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And that self too shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/you-are-your-own-forerunner-and-the-towers-you-have-builded-are-but/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [If the divine Logos of God the Father became son of man and man so that He might make men gods and the sons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximus-the-confessor/if-the-divine-logos-of-god-the-father-became-son-of-man-and-man-so/) [Maximus the Confessor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximus-the-confessor/) > [I am born for God only. Christ is nearer to me than father, or mother, or sister - a near relation, a more affectionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-martyn/i-am-born-for-god-only-christ-is-nearer-to-me-than-father-or-mother/) [Henry Martyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-martyn/) > [The pet food recall, which was after all just about pets, and treated as if it were an inconsequential matter, was an absolute forerunner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-nestle/the-pet-food-recall-which-was-after-all-just-about-pets-and-treated/) [Marion Nestle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-nestle/) > [Book burnings. Always the forerunners. Heralds of the stake, the ovens, the mass graves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/book-burnings-always-the-forerunners-heralds-of-the-stake-the-ovens/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Congealed thinking is the forerunner of failure... make sure you are always receptive to new ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-crane/congealed-thinking-is-the-forerunner-of-failure-make-sure-you-are/) [George W. Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-crane/) ## 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 Decadence quotes > [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/) [Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/) > [“Like symbolism, decadence puts forth the idea that the function of literature is to evoke impressions and 'correspondences', rather than to realistically depict the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asti-hustvedt/like-symbolism-decadence-puts-forth-the-idea-that-the-function-of/) [Asti Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asti-hustvedt/) > [I think Illium can take care of himself.” “Not if he keeps flirting with you.” A fine, almost elegant tendril of heat, champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/i-think-illium-can-take-care-of-himself-not-if-he-keeps-flirting-with/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“(Decadent style) is ingenious, complicated, learned, full of shades of meaning and research, always pushing further the limits of language... forcing itself to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theophile-gautier/decadent-style-is-ingenious-complicated-learned-full-of-shades-of/) [Theophile Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theophile-gautier/) > [“After two years' absence she finally returned to chilly Europe, a trifle weary, a trifle sad, disgusted by our banal entertainments, our shrunken landscapes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octave-mirbeau/after-two-years-absence-she-finally-returned-to-chilly-europe-a/) [Octave Mirbeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octave-mirbeau/) > [I definitely consider 'Poses' - the whole album in fact - to be kind of a miracle. Like the last breath of that moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-wainwright/i-definitely-consider-poses-the-whole-album-in-fact-to-be-kind-of-a/) [Rufus Wainwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-wainwright/) > [Content without style is propaganda or adolescence. Style without content is decadence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/content-without-style-is-propaganda-or-adolescence-style-without/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [Misgovernment is of four kinds, often in combination. They are: 1) tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/misgovernment-is-of-four-kinds-often-in-combination-they-are-1/) [Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/) > [Fundamentalists believe that we don't believe in anything. In their view of the world, they are in possession of absolute certainties, while we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/fundamentalists-believe-that-we-don-t-believe-in-anything-in-their/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The attraction of horror is a mental, or even an intellectual, excitement, but the fascination of the repulsive, so noticeable incontemporary writing, can spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-glasgow/the-attraction-of-horror-is-a-mental-or-even-an-intellectual/) [Ellen Glasgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-glasgow/) > [“He saw a chamber, broad and low, designed, in its every rich stain of picture and slumberous hanging, to appeal to the sensuous. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-capes/he-saw-a-chamber-broad-and-low-designed-in-its-every-rich-stain-of/) [Bernard Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-capes/) > [The history of prevailing status quos shows decay and decadence infecting the opulent materialism of the Haves. The spiritual life of the Haves is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-history-of-prevailing-status-quos-shows-decay-and-decadence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want my children to be bold,free,self-reliant and capable of changing the phase of that portion of the earth where they live. They may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amun-djoleto/i-want-my-children-to-be-bold-free-self-reliant-and-capable-of/) [Amun Djoleto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amun-djoleto/) > [“Evolution has no foresight. Complex machinery develops its own agendas. Brains — cheat. Feedback loops evolve to promote stable heartbeats and then stumble upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-watts/evolution-has-no-foresight-complex-machinery-develops-its-own-agendas/) [Peter Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-watts/) > [“Conventional, organized religion, in its most decadent form, is an inert parody of the genuine religious experience as much as modern occult organizations are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeena-schreck/conventional-organized-religion-in-its-most-decadent-form-is-an-inert/) [Zeena Schreck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeena-schreck/) [Browse all 204 Decadence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decadence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all individuals seek their own interests they neglect the public weal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure-forerunners-of-the-decadence/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Decadence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure-forerunners-of-the-decadence/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_decadence_luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure_1042189.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all…” — 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": "Luxury and excessive refinement are sure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure-forerunners-of-the-decadence/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/luxury-and-excessive-refinement-are-sure-forerunners-of-the-decadence/#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 } } ] } ```