--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: More men are guilty of treason through…" description: "\"More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png" --- # More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any… ![“More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png) > “More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.” [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. Weakness often leads to betrayal more than deliberate scheming, showing moral frailty outweighs calculated treason. **In simple terms:** Weakness causes betrayal more than planning. Key Takeaway Guard against personal frailty. Themes betrayal weakness morality Mood introspective serious Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - political intrigue - personal relationships - leadership challenges Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What strengthens moral resolve? - Can weakness be mitigated? A Different Perspective Strong will can also betray. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Betray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray/) [Betrayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betrayal/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Guilty Treason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty-treason-1213566/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-guilty-3695185/) [Treason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treason/) [Treason Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/treason-weakness-3695184/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/) ## Related quotes > [“When a man begins to feel that he is the only one whou can lead in this republic, he is guilty of treason to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/when-a-man-begins-to-feel-that-he-is-the-only-one-whou-can-lead-in/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-henry/should-i-keep-back-my-opinions-at-such-a-time-through-fear-of-giving/) [Patrick Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-henry/) > [For myself, I care not whether treason be committed North or South; he that is guilty of treason is entitled to a traitor's fate!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-johnson/for-myself-i-care-not-whether-treason-be-committed-north-or-south-he/) [Andrew Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-johnson/) > [Pity for the guilty is treason to the innocent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/pity-for-the-guilty-is-treason-to-the-innocent/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [“It is a great advantage to a President, and a major source of safety to the country, for him to know that he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/it-is-a-great-advantage-to-a-president-and-a-major-source-of-safety/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [Pity for the guilty is treason to the innocent." -Kahlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/pity-for-the-guilty-is-treason-to-the-innocent-kahlan/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [We're in a war. People who blast some pot on a casual basis are guilty of treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-gates/we-re-in-a-war-people-who-blast-some-pot-on-a-casual-basis-are-guilty/) [Daryl Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-gates/) > [“men are guilty of the greatest crimes from ambition, and not from necessity,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/men-are-guilty-of-the-greatest-crimes-from-ambition-and-not-from/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“He needs guilty men. So he has found men who are guilty. Though perhaps not guilty as charged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/he-needs-guilty-men-so-he-has-found-men-who-are-guilty-though-perhaps/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“When sick men refuse to die. When innocent men find something to be guilty of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/when-sick-men-refuse-to-die-when-innocent-men-find-something-to-be/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [You know Moms has been accused of liking young men, and I'm guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moms-mabley/you-know-moms-has-been-accused-of-liking-young-men-and-i-m-guilty/) [Moms Mabley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moms-mabley/) > [“Trials rarely found men not guilty. The general view was that if a man were innocent he would not have got into trouble in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/trials-rarely-found-men-not-guilty-the-general-view-was-that-if-a-man/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [I know not what treason is, if sapping and betraying the liberties of a people be not treason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-younger/i-know-not-what-treason-is-if-sapping-and-betraying-the-liberties-of/) [Cato the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-younger/) > [She who resists as though she would not win, By her own treason falls an easy prey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/she-who-resists-as-though-she-would-not-win-by-her-own-treason-falls/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“To question me once is a simple mistake, Lieutenant. Twice is treason. We execute traitors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/to-question-me-once-is-a-simple-mistake-lieutenant-twice-is-treason/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) ## 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 Betray quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [“Ash,” Mab crooned as he drew near. “My poor boy. Rowan told me what happened between the two of you, but I know you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/ash-mab-crooned-as-he-drew-near-my-poor-boy-rowan-told-me-what/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“79. A soul which knows that it is loved, but does not itself love, betrays its sediment: its dregs come up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/79-a-soul-which-knows-that-it-is-loved-but-does-not-itself-love/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Joy doesn't betray but sustains activism. And when you face a politics that aspires to make you fearful, alienated and isolated, joy is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/joy-doesn-t-betray-but-sustains-activism-and-when-you-face-a-politics/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [Even if we have to go without bread, we Albanians do not violate principles. We do not betray Marxism - Leninism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enver-hoxha/even-if-we-have-to-go-without-bread-we-albanians-do-not-violate/) [Enver Hoxha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enver-hoxha/) > [Stop holding onto people that treat you like crap. They might be nice sometimes, but the rest of the time they disrespect you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/stop-holding-onto-people-that-treat-you-like-crap-they-might-be-nice/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/now-the-brother-shall-betray-the-brother-to-death-and-the-father-the/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [One day you and I will have to have a little talk about this business called love. I still don't understand what it's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/one-day-you-and-i-will-have-to-have-a-little-talk-about-this-business/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“Sarai, you never know who might betray you until it’s too late.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-redmerski/sarai-you-never-know-who-might-betray-you-until-it-s-too-late/) [J.A. Redmerski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-redmerski/) > [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Indifference must be a crime in us, to be ranked but one degree below treachery; for deserting the commonwealth is next to betraying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/indifference-must-be-a-crime-in-us-to-be-ranked-but-one-degree-below/) [Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-st-john-1st-viscount-bolingbroke/) > [The zombie is in a lot of ways the perfect horror movie bad guy. It plays on so many fears all at once. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/the-zombie-is-in-a-lot-of-ways-the-perfect-horror-movie-bad-guy-it/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) > [Books should confuse. Literature abhors the typical. Literature flows to the particular, the mundane, the greasiness of paper, the taste of warm beer, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/books-should-confuse-literature-abhors-the-typical-literature-flows/) [Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/) > [It is up to us to take care of this planet, it is our only home. To betray nature is to betray us. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-ea/it-is-up-to-us-to-take-care-of-this-planet-it-is-our-only-home-to/) [Prince Ea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-ea/) > [In his bleak mercy, Death forever strips The soul of light and memory, rendering blind Our vision, lest surmounted deeps appal, As when on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-ashton-smith/in-his-bleak-mercy-death-forever-strips-the-soul-of-light-and-memory/) [Clark Ashton Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-ashton-smith/) [Browse all 966 Betray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betray/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-weakness-than-any-studied/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Betray" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-weakness-than-any-studied/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_betray_more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-w_1214427.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.” — 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": "More men are guilty of treason...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-weakness-than-any-studied/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/more-men-are-guilty-of-treason-through-weakness-than-any-studied/#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 } } ] } ```