François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

On se console souvent d’être malheureux par un certain plaisir qu’on trouve à le paraître.

Il y a peu de femmes dont le mérite dure plus que la beauté.

We are often more treacherous through weakness than calculation

Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

Il est plus aisé d'être sage pour les autres que de l'être pour soi-même.

L’extrême plaisir que nous prenons à parler de nous-mêmes nous doit faire craindre de n’en donner guere à ceux qui nous écoutent.

201. — He who thinks he has the power to content the world greatly deceives himself, but he who thinks that the world cannot be content with him deceives himself yet more.

Indolence, thoroughly languid though it be, very seldom fails to be master; it interferes with all our plans and actions, and gradually wears down and destroys our passions and our virtues.

That which makes us believe so easily that others have defects is that we all so easily believe what we wish.

Some beautiful things are more dazzling when they are still imperfect than when they have been too perfectly crafted.

A sure way to arouse love is to love very little yourself.

Les passions sont les seuls orateurs qui persuadent toujours. Elles sont comme un art de la nature dont les règles sont infaillibles; et l'homme le plus simple qui a de la passion persuade mieux que le plus éloquent qui n'en a point.

Most men, like plants, have hidden characteristics that chance brings to light.

Second-rate minds usually condemn everything beyond their grasp.

Those who know their minds do not know their hearts.