--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What keeps us from abandoning ourselves…" description: "\"What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that we have several.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png" --- # What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one… ![“What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that we have several.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png) > “What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that we have several.” [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 prevents total surrender to a single vice because multiple desires compete, limiting extreme indulgence. **In simple terms:** Multiple desires keep us from total vice. Key Takeaway Balance and self‑awareness limit excess. Themes human nature self‑control vice balance Mood thoughtful philosophical Type maxim reflective When to use this quote - personal decision‑making - habit formation - addiction recovery Key Concepts psychology philosophy ethics Questions to Reflect On - What desires dominate your choices? - How can you channel multiple urges constructively? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑control can lead to repression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abandoning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoning/) [Entirely Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entirely-vice-2814640/) [Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps/) [Vice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice/) [Vice Fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vice-fact-1145952/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [“There is no worse penalty for vice than the fact that it is dissatisfied with itself and all its fellows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca/there-is-no-worse-penalty-for-vice-than-the-fact-that-it-is/) [Seneca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca/) > [The disgrace of others often keeps tender minds from vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/the-disgrace-of-others-often-keeps-tender-minds-from-vice/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Hypocrisy is an homage that vice renders to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/hypocrisy-is-an-homage-that-vice-renders-to-virtue/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Weakness is more opposed to virtue than is vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/weakness-is-more-opposed-to-virtue-than-is-vice/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [What often prevents our abandoning ourselves to a single vice is, our having more than one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/what-often-prevents-our-abandoning-ourselves-to-a-single-vice-is-our/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [If vice and corruption prevail, liberty cannot subsist; but if virtue have the advantage, arbitrary power cannot be established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/algernon-sidney/if-vice-and-corruption-prevail-liberty-cannot-subsist-but-if-virtue/) [Algernon Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/algernon-sidney/) > [When virtue is at liberty, so to some extent is vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-amiel/when-virtue-is-at-liberty-so-to-some-extent-is-vice/) [Barbara Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-amiel/) > [He, who practices right, but in the hope of acquiring great renown, is very near to vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/he-who-practices-right-but-in-the-hope-of-acquiring-great-renown-is/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Virtue, thou in rags, may challenge more than vice set off with all the trim of greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-massinger/virtue-thou-in-rags-may-challenge-more-than-vice-set-off-with-all-the/) [Philip Massinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-massinger/) > [Vice: Anything you enjoy that is bad for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/vice-anything-you-enjoy-that-is-bad-for-you/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Vice is its own reward. It is virtue which, if it is to be marketed with consumer appeal, must carry Green Shield stamps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/vice-is-its-own-reward-it-is-virtue-which-if-it-is-to-be-marketed/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Vice is man's nature: virtue is a habit--or a mask.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/vice-is-man-s-nature-virtue-is-a-habit-or-a-mask/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Every virtue is a mean between two extremes, each of which is a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/every-virtue-is-a-mean-between-two-extremes-each-of-which-is-a-vice/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Chastity is a virtue with some, but with many it is almost a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/chastity-is-a-virtue-with-some-but-with-many-it-is-almost-a-vice/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## 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 Abandoning quotes > [“Also, don’t be timid about your conclusions. Sometimes abandoning what you’re working on is the right move, even if you’ve already put in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/also-don-t-be-timid-about-your-conclusions-sometimes-abandoning-what/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [“Someone who cannot abandon everything cannot achieve anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armin-arlet-shingeki-no-kyojin/someone-who-cannot-abandon-everything-cannot-achieve-anything/) [Armin Arlet Shingeki no Kyojin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armin-arlet-shingeki-no-kyojin/) > [I stay away from the studio too long, I feel like I'm abandoning myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/offset/i-stay-away-from-the-studio-too-long-i-feel-like-i-m-abandoning-myself/) [Offset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/offset/) > [Being a father is like you are in heaven,abandoning y0ur kids is forever hell..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-grace/being-a-father-is-like-you-are-in-heaven-abandoning-y0ur-kids-is/) [Tanya Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-grace/) > [Happiness does not come from the things that we have but the abandoning of things that we cling to, by letting go of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-griffin/happiness-does-not-come-from-the-things-that-we-have-but-the/) [Kevin Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-griffin/) > [Only the idea of death makes a warrior sufficiently detached so that he is capable of abandoning himself to anything. He knows his death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/only-the-idea-of-death-makes-a-warrior-sufficiently-detached-so-that/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [“Through the realization that what is seen is of one's own mind, Clinging to duality is abandoned. Abandoning means fully understanding And not destroying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-brunnholzl/through-the-realization-that-what-is-seen-is-of-one-s-own-mind/) [Karl Brunnholzl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-brunnholzl/) > [Anything worth putting off is worth abandoning altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/anything-worth-putting-off-is-worth-abandoning-altogether/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [The addictive pleasure of abandoning yourself to a book, of losing consciousness of your worries, your body, and your surroundings, to become a ghost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/the-addictive-pleasure-of-abandoning-yourself-to-a-book-of-losing/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [What if she was meant to be, or could have been, someone important in my life? I think that's what scares me: the randomness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cameron/what-if-she-was-meant-to-be-or-could-have-been-someone-important-in/) [Peter Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cameron/) > [There is nothing compassionate about abandoning the mentally ill to the streets and making the rest of us live in their bedlam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/there-is-nothing-compassionate-about-abandoning-the-mentally-ill-to/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [I'm staying," Henry said, annoyed. "Why?" "Because, if I leave, it would be like abandoning two mentally challenged people in a nuclear waste dump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-lutz/i-m-staying-henry-said-annoyed-why-because-if-i-leave-it-would-be/) [Lisa Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-lutz/) > [“It's way too long and I gave up on it. Abandoning forever an innocent child to a hostile and unforgiving land. Sometimes I still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahtzee-croshaw/it-s-way-too-long-and-i-gave-up-on-it-abandoning-forever-an-innocent/) [Yahtzee Croshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahtzee-croshaw/) > [“The problem here is pain. Filling out the appropriate paperwork to drop out of med school is a straightforward and obvious action; breaking your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/the-problem-here-is-pain-filling-out-the-appropriate-paperwork-to/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [The most important factor in abandoning our thoughts is to look in the Bible and see what God says about a matter. Then we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-p-yohannan/the-most-important-factor-in-abandoning-our-thoughts-is-to-look-in/) [K.P. Yohannan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-p-yohannan/) [Browse all 52 Abandoning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abandoning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that we have several.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves-entirely-to-one-vice-often-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abandoning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves-entirely-to-one-vice-often-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_abandoning_what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves_2711825.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that we have several.” — 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": "What keeps us from abandoning ourselves...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves-entirely-to-one-vice-often-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/what-keeps-us-from-abandoning-ourselves-entirely-to-one-vice-often-is/#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 } } ] } ```