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Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Age: 66 †
Born: 1613
Born: September 15
Died: 1680
Died: March 17
Memoirist
Military Personnel
Writer
Paris
France
François VI
Duc de La Rochefoucauld
Prince de Marcillac
François
Duc de La Rochefoucauld
World
Witness
Capable
Courage
Looking
Perfect
Inspirational
Without
Witnesses
Would
Capability
More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The passions possess a certain injustice and self interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should distrust them even when they appear most trustworthy.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
How can we be answerable for what we shall want in the future, since we have no clear idea of what we want now?
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Men are inconsolable concerning the treachery of their friends or the deceptions of their enemies and yet they are often very highly satisfied to be both deceived and betrayed by their own selves.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Flattery is false money, which would not be current were it not for our vanity.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We have more indolence in the mind than in the body.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Whatever pretext we may give for our affections, often it is only interest and vanity which cause them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Pity is a sense of our own misfortunes in those of another man it is a sort of foresight of the disasters which may befall ourselves. We assist others,, in order that they may assist us on like occasions so that the services we offer to the unfortunate are in reality so many anticipated kindnesses to ourselves.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Some people are like popular songs that you only sing for a short time.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There are no events so disastrous that adroit men do not draw some advantage from them, nor any so fortunate that the imprudent cannot turn to their own prejudice.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Praise is a more ingenious, concealed, and subtle kind of flattery, that satisfies both the giver and the receiver, though by verydifferent ways. The one accepts it as a reward due to his merit the other gives it that he may be looked upon as a just and discerning person.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
What makes us so bitter against people who outwit us is that they think themselves cleverer than we are.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
