--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our virtues are often, in reality, no…" description: "\"Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png" --- # Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices… ![“Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png) > “Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.” [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. Virtues can be mere masks for vices, lacking true moral substance. **In simple terms:** Virtues may hide vices. Key Takeaway Examine motives behind claimed virtues. Themes morality hypocrisy integrity Mood reflective critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - public policy - self‑assessment Key Concepts virtue ethics self-deception Questions to Reflect On - Do you practice virtues for self‑growth or image? - How can you differentiate true virtue from pretense? A Different Perspective Virtues can be genuine, not just disguises. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-vices-5303308/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Vices Disguised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices-disguised-2495661/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) [Virtues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues/) [Virtues Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtues-reality-5303307/) ## Related quotes > [Our virtues are most often but our vices disguised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-virtues-are-most-often-but-our-vices-disguised/) [François De La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/our-virtues-are-most-frequently-but-vices-disguised/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [Could we forbear dispute, and practice love, We should agree as angels do above. Where love presides, not vice alone does find, No entrance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-waller/could-we-forbear-dispute-and-practice-love-we-should-agree-as-angels/) [Edmund Waller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-waller/) > [Character is the sum of one's good habits (virtues) and bad habits (vices). These habits mark us and affect the ways in which we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lickona/character-is-the-sum-of-one-s-good-habits-virtues-and-bad-habits/) [Thomas Lickona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lickona/) > [Though ambition may be a fault in itself, it is often the mother of virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quintilian/though-ambition-may-be-a-fault-in-itself-it-is-often-the-mother-of/) [Quintilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quintilian/) > [The impression that you are a demigod worried me. I wanted to be like an ordinary human being with virtues and vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-impression-that-you-are-a-demigod-worried-me-i-wanted-to-be-like/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Vices are ingredients of virtues just as poisons are ingredients of remedies. Prudence mixes and tempers them and uses them effectively against life's ills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/vices-are-ingredients-of-virtues-just-as-poisons-are-ingredients-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Humility is the sure evidence of Christian virtues. Without it, we retain all our faults still, and they are only covered over with pride,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/humility-is-the-sure-evidence-of-christian-virtues-without-it-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Fortune makes our virtues and vices visible, just as light does the objects of sight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/fortune-makes-our-virtues-and-vices-visible-just-as-light-does-the/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Virtues lose themselves in self-interest, as rivers in the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/virtues-lose-themselves-in-self-interest-as-rivers-in-the-sea/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/great-souls-are-not-those-who-have-fewer-passions-and-more-virtues/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues and vices, and to have determined how good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/nature-seems-at-each-man-s-birth-to-have-marked-out-the-bounds-of-his/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It requires greater virtues to support good fortune than bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-requires-greater-virtues-to-support-good-fortune-than-bad/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [If vanity does not entirely overthrow the virtues, at least it makes them all totter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/if-vanity-does-not-entirely-overthrow-the-virtues-at-least-it-makes/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [No distinction is 'tween man and man, But as his virtues add to him a glory Or vices cloud him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-habington/no-distinction-is-tween-man-and-man-but-as-his-virtues-add-to-him-a/) [William Habington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-habington/) ## 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 Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) [David Hudgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hudgins/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) [Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-better-than-vices-disguised/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Character" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-better-than-vices-disguised/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdd/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_character_our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-bett_2277554.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.” — 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": "Our virtues are often, in reality,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-better-than-vices-disguised/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-virtues-are-often-in-reality-no-better-than-vices-disguised/#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 } } ] } ```