François de La Rochefoucauld quotes - page 12

Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
We are easily comforted for the misfortunes of our friends, when those misfortunes give us an occasion of expressing our affection and solicitude. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Women's virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness for their reputation. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Our concern for the loss of our friends is not always from a sense of their worth, but rather of our own need of them and that we have lost some who had a good opinion of us. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues and vices, and to have determined how good or how wicked that man shall be capable of being. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can; and when once you take hope and fear away, you take from it its very life and being. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
That good disposition which boasts of being most tender is often stifled by the least urging of self-interest. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The accent of a man's native country remains in his mind and his heart, as it does in his speech. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
There is nothing men are so generous of as advice. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
A man's worth has its season, like fruit. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Fortune converts everything to the advantage of her favorites. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
It is with an old love as it is with old age a man lives to all the miseries, but is dead to all the pleasures. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Pride which inspires us with so much envy, serves also to moderate it. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The greatest part of intimate confidences proceed from a desire either to be pitied or admired. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The moderation of people in prosperity is the effect of a smooth and composed temper, owing to the calm of their good fortune. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld