--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are never so easily fooled as when…" description: "\"You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png" --- # You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool… ![“You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png) > “You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.” [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. Attempting to deceive others reveals our own susceptibility to deception. **In simple terms:** Deceiving others shows we can be easily fooled. Key Takeaway Beware of the hypocrisy in trying to trick others. Themes deception self-awareness human nature hypocrisy Mood cautionary thoughtful Type maxim philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - personal relationships - business deals Key Concepts psychology of trust ethical behavior self-reflection Questions to Reflect On - Why do we often fall for our own tricks? - What safeguards can prevent self-deception? A Different Perspective Not all deceptions are intentional; some stem from ignorance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deception/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) ## Related quotes > [Being fooled into trying to make things work out for 'me' is called samsara.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakyong-mipham/being-fooled-into-trying-to-make-things-work-out-for-me-is-called/) [Sakyong Mipham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakyong-mipham/) > [“Children know when they're loved. It's when you grow up that you're more easily fooled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-sotto/children-know-when-they-re-loved-it-s-when-you-grow-up-that-you-re/) [Samantha Sotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-sotto/) > [I can tell how lonely I am by how easily I'm fooled by a mannequin in a store.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-can-tell-how-lonely-i-am-by-how-easily-i-m-fooled-by-a-mannequin-in/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“If you think that climate change and global warming are hoaxes, then you are easily fooled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/if-you-think-that-climate-change-and-global-warming-are-hoaxes-then/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [One is easily fooled by that which one loves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/one-is-easily-fooled-by-that-which-one-loves/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [I am so stupid, so easily fooled. It's really almost funny. If I could lift a finger I would gladly kill myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-christopher-baer/i-am-so-stupid-so-easily-fooled-it-s-really-almost-funny-if-i-could/) [Will Christopher Baer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-christopher-baer/) > [“Death is easily fooled. If the churches don't work, a filter will do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/death-is-easily-fooled-if-the-churches-don-t-work-a-filter-will-do/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [Audiences are not easily fooled, but they are easily confused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darwin-ortiz/audiences-are-not-easily-fooled-but-they-are-easily-confused/) [Darwin Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darwin-ortiz/) > [If you are trying to fool a farsighted or dimwitted person, a veiled facial disguise might be enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-trying-to-fool-a-farsighted-or-dimwitted-person-a-veiled/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Something I learned early on in my career is there's no use trying to fool anybody about what you want to do on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-watts/something-i-learned-early-on-in-my-career-is-there-s-no-use-trying-to/) [Jon Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-watts/) > [Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/science-is-a-way-of-trying-not-to-fool-yourself/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [Tired of trying to display myself as perfect to certain people. Who am I trying to fool? I've got my own problems to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/tired-of-trying-to-display-myself-as-perfect-to-certain-people-who-am/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What trouble we go to, trying to fool people who see right through us anyhow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-nathan/what-trouble-we-go-to-trying-to-fool-people-who-see-right-through-us/) [Robert Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-nathan/) > [You can't fool the American people - politician trying to fool the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dov-davidoff/you-can-t-fool-the-american-people-politician-trying-to-fool-the/) [Dov Davidoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dov-davidoff/) > [“Who am I trying to fool? I'm well aware that at every stage of history there have been crimes against humanity, and they couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahmoud-dowlatabadi/who-am-i-trying-to-fool-i-m-well-aware-that-at-every-stage-of-history/) [Mahmoud Dowlatabadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahmoud-dowlatabadi/) ## 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 Deception quotes > [Fortunately, the mind is restless; when it uncovers a layer of its own deception, gives up an illusion, exposes a lie, it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-chernin/fortunately-the-mind-is-restless-when-it-uncovers-a-layer-of-its-own/) [Kim Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-chernin/) > [“The fact that I can get away with something is the very reason why I shouldn’t do it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/the-fact-that-i-can-get-away-with-something-is-the-very-reason-why-i/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [“And so back to Cassie: who was she? Part of the deception; just a friend or something else…perhaps it was time to find out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-cusick-jones/and-so-back-to-cassie-who-was-she-part-of-the-deception-just-a-friend/) [Melanie Cusick-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-cusick-jones/) > [“Satan wants you to believe that you don't have a choice in the matter. You can't be happy until things go the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-rietzsch/satan-wants-you-to-believe-that-you-don-t-have-a-choice-in-the-matter/) Lindsey Rietzsch > [No-deal Brexit could be Boris Johnson's biggest deception yet - worse than the Boris bus or the lies that had him sacked as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/no-deal-brexit-could-be-boris-johnson-s-biggest-deception-yet-worse/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) > [The public should begin to understand that there's nothing that comes out of this campaign, or this Obama White House, that they can believe.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/the-public-should-begin-to-understand-that-there-s-nothing-that-comes/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [The history of institutions is often a history of deception and illusions; for their virtue depends on the ideas that produce and on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-acton/the-history-of-institutions-is-often-a-history-of-deception-and/) [Lord Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-acton/) > [Speaking of trust, ever since I wrote this book, 'Liespotting,' no one wants to meet me in person anymore - no, no, no, no,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-meyer/speaking-of-trust-ever-since-i-wrote-this-book-liespotting-no-one/) [Pamela Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-meyer/) > [Jack and Jill ran up the hill, both for a little fun. Jack's plan was deception while Jill sought affection. And Jack wouldn't quit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-faria-stolarz/jack-and-jill-ran-up-the-hill-both-for-a-little-fun-jack-s-plan-was/) [Laurie Faria Stolarz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-faria-stolarz/) > [People with psychopathy are very good at reading the minds of their victims. That's probably most clearly seen in deception.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/people-with-psychopathy-are-very-good-at-reading-the-minds-of-their/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [Any seeming deception in a statement is costly, not only in the expense of the advertising but in the detrimental effect produced upon the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wanamaker/any-seeming-deception-in-a-statement-is-costly-not-only-in-the/) [John Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wanamaker/) > [Knowledge of God's Word is a bulwark against deception, temptation, accusation, even persecution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/knowledge-of-god-s-word-is-a-bulwark-against-deception-temptation/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is dredged up only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-musto/in-the-last-few-years-the-very-idea-of-telling-the-truth-the-whole/) [Michael Musto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-musto/) > [“To keep myself from harming or calling N and to stave off the rage and despair, I focus on my extraordinary son, drink midrange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/to-keep-myself-from-harming-or-calling-n-and-to-stave-off-the-rage/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) > [“For me, it´s sloth," I say. "Hedonistic sloth and escapism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-finnamore/for-me-it-s-sloth-i-say-hedonistic-sloth-and-escapism/) [Suzanne Finnamore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-finnamore/) [Browse all 1,232 Deception quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deception/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francois de La Rochefoucauld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-trying-to-fool-someone-else/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deception" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-trying-to-fool-someone-else/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac0/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_deception_you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-t_1468344.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.” — 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": "You are never so easily fooled...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-trying-to-fool-someone-else/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/you-are-never-so-easily-fooled-as-when-trying-to-fool-someone-else/#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 } } ] } ```