--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The evil that we do does not attract to…" description: "\"The evil that we do does not attract to us so much persecution and hatred as our good qualities.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_doe_the-evil-that-we-do-does-not-attract-to_2811521.png" --- # The evil that we do does not attract to us so much… ![“The evil that we do does not attract to us so much persecution and hatred as our good qualities.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_doe_the-evil-that-we-do-does-not-attract-to_2811521.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_doe_the-evil-that-we-do-does-not-attract-to_2811521.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/567/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_doe_the-evil-that-we-do-does-not-attract-to_2811521.png) > “The evil that we do does not attract to us so much persecution and hatred as our good qualities.” [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. Our vices attract more hatred than our virtues, which often go unnoticed or unpunished. **In simple terms:** Bad deeds draw more hate than good deeds. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and let good deeds speak for themselves. Themes human nature virtue vice Mood thoughtful philosophical Type maxim ethical When to use this quote - community service - personal reflection - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts moral psychology social perception humility Questions to Reflect On - Why are virtues often overlooked? - How can you celebrate good actions? A Different Perspective Society may still reward vice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attract Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attract-persecution-3522969/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Good quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-quality/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Hatred Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred-good-1319629/) [Persecution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution/) [Persecution Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecution-hatred-3522970/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) ## Related quotes > [Our good qualities expose us more to hatred and persecution than all the ill we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-good-qualities-expose-us-more-to-hatred-and-persecution-than-all/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“Black as all the sin it has carried across its surface, and reeking of its hatred of all that is good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/turhan-halil/black-as-all-the-sin-it-has-carried-across-its-surface-and-reeking-of/) [Turhan Halil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/turhan-halil/) > [“Hatred had nothing to do with how good or how bad a person was- just what the people did.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-c-shipp/hatred-had-nothing-to-do-with-how-good-or-how-bad-a-person-was-just/) [Jeremy C. Shipp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-c-shipp/) > [It is with certain good qualities as with the senses; those who have them not can neither appreciate nor comprehend them in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-with-certain-good-qualities-as-with-the-senses-those-who-have/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/in-the-intercourse-of-life-we-please-more-by-our-faults-than-by-our/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Some good qualities are like the senses: Those who are entirely deprived of them can have no notion of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/some-good-qualities-are-like-the-senses-those-who-are-entirely/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It is oftener by the estimation of our own feelings that we exaggerate the good qualities of others than by their merit, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-oftener-by-the-estimation-of-our-own-feelings-that-we/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-desire-which-urges-us-to-deserve-praise-strengthens-our-good/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One of the greatest and also the commonest of faults is for men to believe that, because they never hear their shortcomings spoken of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/one-of-the-greatest-and-also-the-commonest-of-faults-is-for-men-to-2/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Self-love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them; and we judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/self-love-increases-or-diminishes-for-us-the-good-qualities-of-our/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Spending your time with true spiritual friends will fill you with love for all beings and help you to see how negative attachment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/spending-your-time-with-true-spiritual-friends-will-fill-you-with/) [Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [“The central ideas of Christianity — an angry God and vicarious atonement — are contrary to every fact in nature, as also to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-central-ideas-of-christianity-an-angry-god-and-vicarious/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [Dogma demands authority, rather than intelligent thought, as the source of opinion; it requires persecution of heretics and hostility to unbelievers; it asks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dogma-demands-authority-rather-than-intelligent-thought-as-the-source/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [My main aim has always been to do good quality films with roles that have some substance. With Power and Beauty there were loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-henstridge/my-main-aim-has-always-been-to-do-good-quality-films-with-roles-that/) [Natasha Henstridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-henstridge/) ## 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 Doe quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. 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Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/) [James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. 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