---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot possibly imagine the variety of…"
description: "\"We cannot possibly imagine the variety of contradictions in every heart.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_contradiction_we-cannot-possibly-imagine-the-variety-o_728829.png"
---

#  We cannot possibly imagine the variety of contradictions…

![“We cannot possibly imagine the variety of contradictions in every heart.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_contradiction_we-cannot-possibly-imagine-the-variety-o_728829.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_contradiction_we-cannot-possibly-imagine-the-variety-o_728829.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27b/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_contradiction_we-cannot-possibly-imagine-the-variety-o_728829.png)

> “We cannot possibly imagine the variety of contradictions in every heart.”

[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.

Human nature contains inherent contradictions, making each heart a complex mix of opposing traits.

**In simple terms:** People are full of conflicting feelings.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and accept inner contradictions.

Themes

human nature contradiction self-awareness complexity

Mood

thoughtful introspective

Type

maxim philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
- creative writing

Key Concepts

philosophy morality psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What contradictions do you notice in yourself?
- How can contradictions drive growth?

A Different Perspective

The statement may overgeneralize, ignoring individual variability.

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[Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Contradictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictions/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Variety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/variety/)

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> [“If you have ever lost someone very important to you, then you already know how it feels; and if you haven’t, you cannot possibly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/if-you-have-ever-lost-someone-very-important-to-you-then-you-already/)

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> [Your more a God to me than anyone who believes in something invisible. You have always been there for me through your music making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ashmore/your-more-a-god-to-me-than-anyone-who-believes-in-something-invisible/)

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> [We crave support in vanity, as we do in religion, and never forgive contradictions in that sphere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/we-crave-support-in-vanity-as-we-do-in-religion-and-never-forgive/)

[George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/)

> [We both wondered whether these contradictions that one can't avoid if one begins to think of time and space may not really be proofs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-machen/we-both-wondered-whether-these-contradictions-that-one-can-t-avoid-if/)

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> [“Seemed she should learn to smile when she was unhappy, to stop laughing, to speak up, to never speak to strangers, to share guilt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-aylett/seemed-she-should-learn-to-smile-when-she-was-unhappy-to-stop/)

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[Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/)

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[Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/)

## 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/)

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> [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/)

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> [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/)

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> [“A truth is not necessary, because we negatively are not able to conceive the actual existence of the opposite thereof;but a truth is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-l-dabney/a-truth-is-not-necessary-because-we-negatively-are-not-able-to/)

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