Francois De La Rochefoucauld Quotes
Being a blockhead is sometimes the best security against being cheated by a man of wit.
There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess.
A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.
There are certain defects which, well-mounted, glitter like virtue itself.
A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.
A small degree of wit, accompanied by good sense, is less tiresome in the long run than a great amount of wit without it.
To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.
It takes more strength of character to withstand good fortune than bad.
A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we take the least thought about acquiring.
Hope and fear are inseparable. There is no hope without fear, nor any fear without hope.
Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves succeed.
Few things are needful to make the wise man happy, but nothing satisfies the fool; - and this is the reason why so many of mankind are miserable.
There is at least as much eloquence in the voice, eyes, and air of a speaker as in his choice of words.
Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.
A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.
It is as common for tastes to change as it is uncommon for traits of character.
We should often blush at our noblest deeds if the world were to see all their underlying motives.
People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one ever dare avow her.
The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.
It is often hard to determine whether a clear, open, and honorable proceeding is the result of goodness or of cunning.
If one judges love by the majority of its effects, it is more like hatred than like friendship.
Civility is a desire to receive civilities, and to be accounted well-bred.
A good woman is a hidden treasure; who discovers her will do well not to boast about it.
The heat of youth is not more opposed to safety than the coldness of age.
One should treat one's fate as one does one's health; enjoy it when it is good, be patient with it when it is poor, and never attempt any drastic cure save as an ultimate resort.
In infants, levity is a prettiness; in men a shameful defect; but in old age, a monstrous folly.
We judge so superficially of things, that common words and actions spoke and done in an agreeable manner, with some knowledge of what passes in the world, often succeed beyond the greatest ability.
It is not expedient or wise to examine our friends too closely; few persons are raised in our esteem by a close examination.
No man can love a second time the person whom he has once truly ceased to love.
Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all individuals seek their own interests they neglect the public weal.
