Foolishness Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
![“There are but two ways of rising in the world: either by one's own industry or profiting by the foolishness of others. [Fr., Il n'y a au monde que deux manieres de s'elever, ou par sa propre industrie, ou par l'imbecilite des autres.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b93/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_foolishness_there-are-but-two-ways-of-rising-in-the_2182233.jpg)
“There are but two ways of rising in the world: either by one's own industry or profiting by the foolishness of others. [Fr., Il n'y a au monde que deux manieres de s'elever, ou par sa propre industrie, ou par l'imbecilite des autres.]”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Les Caractères by Jean de la Bruyere, 1688
Success comes either from personal effort or exploiting others’ folly, highlighting moral choices.
In simple terms: Work hard or exploit others.
Key Takeaway
Choose honest effort over exploitation.
Themes
ethics
ambition
social dynamics
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- career advancement
- politics
- business strategy
- social interactions
Key Concepts
morality
economics
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Is personal industry enough for lasting success?
- What are the costs of exploiting others?
A Different Perspective
Exploitation harms society and reputation.
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![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
