François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

In all professions we affect a part and an appearance to seem what we wish to be. Thus the world is merely composed of actors.

It is much easier to extinguish a first desire than to satisfy all of those that follow it.

Some have a species of instinct (the source of which they are ignorant of), and decide all questions that come before them by its aid, and always decide rightly. These follow their taste more than their intelligence, because they do not permit their temper and self-love to prevail over their natural discernment. All they do is in harmony, all is in the same spirit. This harmony makes them decide correctly on matters, and form a correct estimate of their value. But speaking generally there are few who have a taste fixed and independent of that of their friends, they follow example and fashion which generally form the standard of taste.

Nothing prevents us being natural so much as the desire to appear so.

Le bien que nous avons reçu de quelqu'un veut que nous respections le mal qu’il nous fait.

The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth.

78. — The love of justice is simply in the majority of men the fear of suffering injustice.

The passions are the only advocates, which always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.

most men only die because they know not how to prevent dying.

Affected simplicity is refined imposture.

Those who obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats

If we resist our passions, it is more due to their weakness than our strength.

The art of using moderate abilities to advantage wins praise, and often acquires more reputation than actual brilliancy.

Les esprits médiocres condamnent d’ordinaire tout ce qui passe leur portée.

Our state of mind is placid or restless not so much because of the really important happenings in our lives as because of convenient or annoying concatenations of trivial daily events