FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD QUOTES III

French author (1613-1680)

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


Men sometimes think they hate flattery, but they hate only the manner of flattering.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the confidence of others.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections

Tags: sincerity


Our virtues are usually just vices in disguise.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: virtue


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


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


Most women lament not the death of their lovers so much out of real affection for them, as because they would appear worthy of love.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


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

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: flattery


There are certain defects which, well-mounted, glitter like virtue itself.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: virtue


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


Few know how to be old.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: old age


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


It is our own vanity that makes the vanity of others intolerable to us.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Maxims

Tags: vanity


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

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


We often glory in the most criminal passions; but envy is a shameful passion we never dare own.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Madmen and fools see everything through the medium of humor.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: humor


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

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: gratitude


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

LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: opportunity


Weakness is the only fault which cannot be cured.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Maxims

Tags: weakness


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