Quote

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.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

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
Often
Exalt
Truth
Flatter
Great
Owing
Much
Achievements
Men
Achievement
Design
Though
Chance

More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Image
When the soul is ruffled by the remains of one passion, it is more disposed to entertain a new one than when it is entirely curedand at rest from all.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
That conduct often seems ridiculous the secret reasons of which are wise and solid.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
The truest mark of being born with great qualities is to be born without envy.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Few things are needed to make a wise man happy nothing can make a fool content that is why most men are miserable.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Cunning and treachery proceed from want of capacity.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We take less pains to be happy, than to appear so.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
It is as easy to unknowingly deceive yourself as it is to deceive others.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Propriety is the least of all laws, and the most observed.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
The strongest symptom of wisdom in man is his being sensible of his own follies.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
The only security is courage.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Imagination does not enable us to invent as many different contradictions as there are by nature in every heart.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
There is a form of eminence which does not depend on fate it is an air which sets us apart and seems to prtend great things it is the value which we unconsciously attach to ourselves it is the quality which wins us deference of others more than birth, position, or ability, it gives us ascendance.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld