FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD QUOTES VII

French author (1613-1680)

We love much better those who endeavor to imitate us, than those who strive to equal us. For imitation is a sign of esteem, but competition of envy.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


What seems like generosity is often but a disguised ambition, which overlooks little interests, in order to gratify great ones.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: generosity


Whatever care we take to conceal our passions under the appearance of piety and honor, they are always to be seen through these veils.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims


'Tis as easy to deceive ourselves without our perceiving it, as 'tis difficult to deceive others without their perceiving it.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: deception


The rust of business is sometimes polished off in a camp; but never in a court.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: business


There are some disguised falsehoods so like truths, that 'twould be to judge ill not to be deceived by them.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: lying


It is far easier to know men than to know man.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: men


The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the agitation of their hearts.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims


Envy is destroyed by true friendship, and coquetry by true love.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Fortune turns everything to the advantage of her favorites.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: fortune


We try to make a virtue of vices we are loath to correct.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

Tags: vice


Cunning and treachery proceed from want of capacity.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Did we not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never hurt us.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: flattery


We should not be much concerned about faults we have the courage to own.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: faults


Our actions are like blank rhymes, to which everyone applies what sense he pleases.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: action


The ambitious deceive themselves in proposing an end to their ambition; that end, when attained, becomes a means.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: ambition


There are women who never had an intrigue; but there are scarce any who never had but one.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims


Death and the sun can't be looked at steadily.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: death


To praise great actions is in some sense to share them.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims

Tags: praise


We may say of agreeableness, as distinct from beauty, that it is a symmetry whose rules are unknown.

FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

Moral Maxims