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What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.
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
Giving
Thing
Generosity
Vanity
Usually
Called
Enjoy
Given
More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We are not fond of praising, and never praise any one except from interested motives. Praise is a clever, concealed, and delicate flattery, which gratifies in different ways the giver and the receiver. The one takes it as a recompense of his merit, and the other bestows it to display his equity and discernment.
Francois 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.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences.
Francois 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.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We rarely ever perceive others as being sensible, except for those who agree with us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Eloquence: saying the proper thing and stopping.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Almost everyone takes pleasure in repaying trifling obligations, very many feel gratitude for those that are moderate but there is scarcely anyone who is not ungrateful for those that are weighty.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Tis more dishonourable to distrust a friend than to be deceived by him.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Self-interest speaks all manner of tongues and plays all manner of parts, even that of disinterestedness.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Youth is a perpetual intoxication it is a fever of the mind.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Familiarity is a suspension of almost all the laws of civility, which libertinism has introduced into society under the notion of ease.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Οur own distrust somewhat justifies the deceit of others.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The passions of youth are not more dangerous to health than is the lukewarmness of old age.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We are eager to believe that others are flawed because we are eager to believe in what we wish for.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We say little, when vanity does not make us speak.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Of all our faults, the one we avow most easily is idleness we persuade ourselves that it is allied to all the peaceable virtues,and as for the others, that it does not destroy them utterly, but only suspends the exercise of their functions.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Renewed friendships require more care than those that have never been broken.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
