We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
It is a great ability to be able to conceal one's ability. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
When we are unable to find tranquillity within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The sort of liveliness which increases with age is not far distant from madness. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The mind cannot long act the role of the heart. - Francois de la Rochefoucauld
Not all those who know their minds know their hearts as well. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The truest mark of being born with great qualities, is being born without envy. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
In jealousy there is more of self-love, than of love to another. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
To be deceived by our enemies or betrayed by our friends in insupportable; yet by ourselves we are often content to be so treated. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person? - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Minds of moderate caliber ordinarily condemn everything which is beyond their range. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
The man whom no one pleases is much more unhappy than the man who pleases no one. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The most dangerous folly of old people who were once attractive is to forget that they are not so any longer. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We would rather run ourselves down than not speak of ourselves at all. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what he would be capable of with the world looking on. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy those are who already possess it. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Hope is the last thing that dies in man; and though it be exceedingly deceitful, yet it is of this good use to us, that while we are traveling through life it conducts us in an easier and more pleasant way to our journey's end. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
Few are agreeable in conversation, because each thinks more of what he intends to say than of what others are saying, and listens no more when he himself has a chance to speak. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The defects and faults in the mind are like wounds in the body. After all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We should manage our fortunes as we do our health - enjoy it when good, be patient when it is bad, and never apply violent remedies except in an extreme necessity. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
However brilliant an action, it should not be esteemed great unless the result of a great motive. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The pleasure of love is in loving. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Solemnity is a device of the body to hide the faults of the mind. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We often do good in order that we may do evil with impunity. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
He who lives without folly is not so wise as he imagines. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
He who lives without folly isn't so wise as he thinks. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Jealousy feeds upon suspicion, and it turns into fury or it ends as soon as we pass from suspicion to certainty. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
Vanity makes us do more things against inclination than reason. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
All of us have sufficient fortitude to bear the misfortunes of others. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood our motives. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
To establish oneself in the world, one has to do all one can to appear established. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
The defects of the understanding, like those of the face, grow worse as we grow old. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
Many people despise wealth, but few know how to give it away. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
It is as common for tastes to change as it is uncommon for traits of character. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We are more interested in making others believe we are happy than in trying to be happy ourselves. - Francois De La Rochefoucauld
We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The passions often engender their contraries. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others, that in the end, we become disguised to ourselves. - Francois de la Rochefoucauld
It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Our repentance is not so much regret for the ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us in consequence. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Hypocrisy is the homage which vice pays to virtue. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There are very few women in society whose virtue outlasts their beauty. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The passions are the only orators that always persuade. - Francois de La Rochefoucauld