François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

How comes it that our memories are good enough to retain even the minutest details of what has befallen us, but not to recollect how many times we have recounted to the same person?

Ce qui fait que les amants et les maîtresses ne s'ennuient point d'être ensemble, c'est qu'ils parlent toujours d'eux-mêmes.

XXI. — Philosophers, and Seneca above all, have not diminished crimes by their precepts; they have only used them in the building up of pride. (1665, No. 105.)

La gente no sólo es propensa a olvidar los favores y las injurias, sino que acaban por odiar a quien la favoreció y por olvidar el rencor que sentía por el que la ofendió. El empeño en recompensar el bien y vengarse del mal le parece una servidumbre demasiado onerosa

469. — We never desire earnestly what we desire in reason.

Affected simplicity is refined imposture.

We easily forgive in our friends those faults we do not perceive.

La humildad es el altar en el que Dios quiere que se le ofrezcan sacrificios

Jealousy is always born with love but does not always die with it.

No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.

La promptitude à croire le mal sans l’avoir assez examiné est un effet de l’orgueil et de la paresse. On veut trouver des coupables; et on ne veut pas se donner la peine d’examiner les crimes.

Luck must be dealt with like health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.

As our character deteriorates, so does our taste

It is as easy to deceive ourselves without noticing it as it is hard to deceive others without their noticing

Tous ceux qui connaissent leur esprit ne connaissent pas leur coeur.