François de La Rochefoucauld quotes - page 9

Nothing hinders a thing from being natural so much as the straining ourselves to make it seem so. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
A fashionable woman is always in love - with herself. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
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. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Being a blockhead is sometimes the best security against being cheated by a man of wit. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Only the contemptible fear contempt. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either ceases or turns absolute madness. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Nothing is so contagious as example; and we never do any great good or evil which does not produce its like. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
The greatest fault of a penetrating wit is to go beyond the mark. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
No men are oftener wrong than those that can least bear to be so. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
What makes the pain we feel from shame and jealousy so cutting is that vanity can give us no assistance in bearing them. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
All the passions make us commit faults; love makes us commit the most ridiculous ones. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be. (François de La Rochefoucauld)
The heart is forever making the head its fool. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Jealousy lives upon doubts. It becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
We seldom find people ungrateful so long as it is thought we can serve them. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld
Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever. View quote
François de La Rochefoucauld