François de La Rochefoucauld quotes - page 6

The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
Some beautiful things are more dazzling when they are still imperfect than when they have been too perfectly crafted. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Our minds are lazier than our bodies. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The vices enter into the composition of the virtues, as poisons into that of medicines. Prudence collects and arranges them, and uses them beneficially against the ills of life. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
If there be a love pure and free from the admixture of our other passions, it is that which lies hidden in the bottom of our heart, and which we know not ourselves. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Neither love nor fire can subsist without perpetual motion; both cease to live so soon as they cease to hope, or to fear. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Men have made a virtue of moderation to limit the ambition of the great, and to console people of mediocrity for their want of fortune and of merit. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
A man may be ungrateful but is less chargeable with ingratitude than his benefactor. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The accent of one's birthplace remains in the mind and in the heart as in one's speech. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Jealousy lives upon suspicion; and it turns into a fury or ends as soon as it passes from suspicion to certainty. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Self-interest speaks all sorts of tongues and plays all sorts of characters, even that of disinterestedness. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
A man will often believe himself a leader when he is led; while with his mind he endeavours to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him toward another. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
It is difficult to define love. In the soul it is a passion to rule; in the mind it is sympathy; and in the body it is only a hidden and tactful desire to possess what we love after many mysteries. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
It is more difficult to avoid being ruled than to rule others. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Most people judge men only by success or by fortune. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
There is great skill in knowing how to conceal one's skill. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
There are many predicaments in life that one must be a bit crazy to escape from. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The extreme pleasure we take in talking about ourselves should make us afraid that we may scarcely be giving any to our listeners. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
What renders other people's vanity insufferable is that it wounds our own. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
There is merit without attainment, but no attainment without some merit. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
In friendship and in love, one is often happier because of what one does not know than what one knows. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Of all violent passions, the least unbecoming to a woman is love. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld