Quotes By Francois De La Rochefoucauld

The reason that lovers never weary each other is because they are always talking about themselves.

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.

Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.

We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.

We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves.

It takes nearly as much ability to know how to profit by good advice as to know how to act for one's self.

We should often blush for our very best actions, if the world did but see all the motives upon which they were done.

In the misfortunes of our best friends we always find something not altogether displeasing to us.

We come altogether fresh and raw into the several stages of life, and often find ourselves without experience, despite our years.

The accent of a man's native country remains in his mind and his heart, as it does in his speech.

Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever.

There is many a virtuous woman weary of her trade.

The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having seen, makes up a good part of our sincerity.

The defects of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse with age.

The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.

All the passions make us commit faults; love makes us commit the most ridiculous ones.

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.

Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it.

Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.

We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.

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

The first lover is kept a long while, when no offer is made of a second.

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.

Being a blockhead is sometimes the best security against being cheated by a man of wit.

Gracefulness is to the body what understanding is to the mind.

Love often leads on to ambition, but seldom does one return from ambition to love.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.

The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune.

We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.