French author (1613-1680)
If a man doesn't find ease in himself, 'tis in vain to seek it elsewhere.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness and daring through timidity.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
It is our own vanity that makes the vanity of others intolerable to us.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Maxims
Weakness is the only fault which cannot be cured.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Maxims
The desire of appearing persons of ability often prevents our being so.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Men may boast of their great actions; but they are more often the effects of chance than of design.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
There are few women whose charm survives their beauty.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
The love of justice is, in most men, nothing more than the fear of suffering injustice.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Sentences et Maximes Morales
The character of a man's native country is as strongly impressed on his mind as its accent is on his tongue.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Hope and fear are inseparable.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
The head is always the bubble of the heart.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Self-love is the greatest of flatterers.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
We can't bear to be deceived by our enemies, and betrayed by our friends; yet are often content to be so served by ourselves.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
An extraordinary haste to discharge an obligation is a sort of ingratitude.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The surest way to be deceived is to think oneself more clever than others.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Maxims
Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world can't do without him is yet more mistaken.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims