---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Passions often produce their contraries…"
description: "\"Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness an..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3a/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_avarice_passions-often-produce-their-contraries_1304297.png"
---

#  Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes…

![“Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness and daring through timidity.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3a/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_avarice_passions-often-produce-their-contraries_1304297.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3a/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_avarice_passions-often-produce-their-contraries_1304297.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3a/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_avarice_passions-often-produce-their-contraries_1304297.png)

> “Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness and daring through timidity.”

[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.

Opposite vices often stem from the same root, showing how weakness and daring can both be driven by underlying insecurity.

**In simple terms:** Contrary vices share a common cause, like fear and insecurity.

Key Takeaway

Identify the underlying cause of conflicting behaviors.

Themes

vice contraries human nature insecurity weakness

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical ethical

When to use this quote

- personal decision‑making
- leadership
- conflict management
- financial behavior

Key Concepts

philosophy ethics psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What hidden fear fuels your contradictory actions?
- Can recognizing the root change your behavior?

A Different Perspective

Opposite vices may be rationalized, obscuring true motives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Avarice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avarice/) [Daring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Timidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timidity/) [Weakness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weakness/)

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> [Prodigality is indeed the vice of a weak nature, as avarice is of a strong one; it comes of a weak craving for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-taylor/prodigality-is-indeed-the-vice-of-a-weak-nature-as-avarice-is-of-a/)

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> [Prodigality of Time produces Poverty of Mind as well as of Estate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/prodigality-of-time-produces-poverty-of-mind-as-well-as-of-estate/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Corrupt influence is itself the perennial spring of all prodigality, and of all disorder; it loads us more than millions of debt; takes away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/corrupt-influence-is-itself-the-perennial-spring-of-all-prodigality/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [there is nothing so easy as to be wise for others; a species of prodigality, by-the-by - for such wisdom is wholly wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/there-is-nothing-so-easy-as-to-be-wise-for-others-a-species-of/)

[Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/)

> [If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/if-time-be-of-all-things-the-most-precious-wasting-time-must-be-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [Gaming is the child of avarice, but the parent of prodigality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/gaming-is-the-child-of-avarice-but-the-parent-of-prodigality/)

[Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/)

> [The injury of prodigality leads to this, that he who will not economize will have to agonize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-injury-of-prodigality-leads-to-this-that-he-who-will-not/)

[Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/)

> [Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/narrowness-of-mind-is-often-the-cause-of-obstinacy-we-do-not-easily/)

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

> [Presumption will be easily corrected; but timidity is a disease of the mind more obstinate and fatal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/presumption-will-be-easily-corrected-but-timidity-is-a-disease-of-the/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [I remain convinced that obstinate addiction to ordinary language in our private thoughts is one of the main obstacles to progress in philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-remain-convinced-that-obstinate-addiction-to-ordinary-language-in/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [Charlotte slammed the paper down onto her desk with an exclamation of rage. “Aloysius Starkweather is the most stubborn, hypocritical, obstinate, degenerate—” She broke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/charlotte-slammed-the-paper-down-onto-her-desk-with-an-exclamation-of/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Many are obstinate with regard to the pathway once they have set upon it, few with regard to the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/many-are-obstinate-with-regard-to-the-pathway-once-they-have-set-upon/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Obstinate people can be divided into the opinionated, the ignorant, and the boorish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/obstinate-people-can-be-divided-into-the-opinionated-the-ignorant-and/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

## 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/)

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> [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/)

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> [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/)

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[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/)

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> [In our own time the whole of Greece has been subject to a low birth rate and a general decrease of the population, owing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polybius/in-our-own-time-the-whole-of-greece-has-been-subject-to-a-low-birth/)

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> [The man who worships mere wealth is a snob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/the-man-who-worships-mere-wealth-is-a-snob/)

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[Tecumseh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tecumseh/)

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[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [Where poverty ceases, avarice begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/where-poverty-ceases-avarice-begins/)

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> [Gluttony should be destroyed by self-control; unchastity by desire for God and longing for the blessings held in store; avarice by compassion for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-damascus/gluttony-should-be-destroyed-by-self-control-unchastity-by-desire-for/)

[John of Damascus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-damascus/)

> [Riches with their wicked inducements increase; nevertheless, avarice is never satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/riches-with-their-wicked-inducements-increase-nevertheless-avarice-is/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/)

[Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/)

> [When virtue is banished, ambition invades the minds of those who are disposed to receive it and avarice possesses the whole community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/when-virtue-is-banished-ambition-invades-the-minds-of-those-who-are/)

[Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/)

> [He who is always in a hurry to be wealthy and immersed in the study of augmenting his fortune has lost the arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/he-who-is-always-in-a-hurry-to-be-wealthy-and-immersed-in-the-study/)

[Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/)

> [Goodness is weakness, pleasantness is poisonous, serenity is mediocrity and kindness is for losers. The best reason for committing loathsome and detestable acts –…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/goodness-is-weakness-pleasantness-is-poisonous-serenity-is-mediocrity/)

[Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/)

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