François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

It may well be that those who have trapped us by their tricks do not seem to us so foolish as we seem to ourselves when trapped by the tricks of others.

We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire.

If we conquer our passions it is more from their weakness than from our strength.

Il s'en faut bien que l'innocence ne trouve autant de protection que le crime.

Too great haste to repay an obligation is a kind of ingratitude.

It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.

We commonly praise the good hearts of those who admire us.

Although all the qualities of mind may be united in a great genius, yet there are some which are special and peculiar to him; his views are unlimited; he always acts uniformly and with the same activity; he sees distant objects as if present; he comprehends and grasps the greatest, sees and notices the smallest matters; his thoughts are elevated, broad, just and intelligible. Nothing escapes his observation, and he often finds truth in spite of the obscurity that hides her from others. A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable.

Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.

On ne donne rien si libéralement que ses conseils.

There are people we cannot think ill of without proof of their misdeeds, but nobody's misdeeds should ever surprise us.

Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on.

There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one’s ability.

We are never as fortunate or as unfortunate as we suppose

In love we often doubt what we most believe.