FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD QUOTES III

French author (1613-1680)

It is pointless for a woman to be young unless pretty, or to be pretty unless young.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: women


Flattery is a sort of bad money to which our vanity gives currency.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: flattery


The simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: passion


The common practice of cunning is a sign of small genius; and it almost always happens that those who use it to cover themselves in one place, lay themselves open in another.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: cunning


Nothing is so catching as example.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: example


Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: gratitude


In all aspects of life, we take on a part and an appearance to seem to be what we wish to be--and thus the world is merely composed of actors.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; Or, Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: actors


Civility is a desire to receive civilities, and to be accounted well-bred.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Whatever difference may appear in men's fortunes, there is nevertheless a certain compensation of good and ill that makes all equal.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: fortune


To be a great man it is necessary to turn to account all opportunities.

LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: opportunity


Though most of the friendships of the world ill deserve the name of friendships; yet a man may make use of them on occasion, as of a traffic whose returns are uncertain, and in which 'tis usual to be cheated.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: friendship


The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age we live in.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Not to love is in love an infallible means of being loved.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: love


We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


The greatest miracle of love is the reformation of a coquette.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


That man who has never been in danger cannot answer for his courage.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: courage


Self-love is the greatest of flatterers.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims


If a man doesn't find ease in himself, 'tis in vain to seek it elsewhere.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


A resolution never to deceive exposes a man to be often deceived.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


We seldom find people ungrateful so long as we are in a condition to render them service.

FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Maxims and Moral Reflections

Tags: gratitude