French author (1613-1680)
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
Men are more satirical from vanity than from malice.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
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 passions possess a certain injustice and self interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should distrust them even when they appear most trustworthy.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Hope and fear are inseparable.
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
Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
attributed, Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing
A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not like a beast.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Not to love is in love an infallible means of being loved.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
The desire of appearing persons of ability often prevents our being so.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Cunning and treachery proceed from want of capacity.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
To be a great man one should know how to profit by every phase of fortune.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
In love, the quickest is always the best cure.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
The surest way to be cheated is to fancy ourselves more cunning than others.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
A fool has not stuff enough to make a good man.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Those who apply themselves too much to little things commonly become incapable of great ones.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
A resolution never to deceive exposes a man to be often deceived.
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
Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims