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It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character, which easily changes into asperity.

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
Changes
Weak
General
Firmness
Character
Gentleness
Persons
Gentle
Real
Appear
Determination
Easily

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When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.
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Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it.
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A well-trained mind has less difficulty in submitting to than in guiding an ill-trained mind.
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If we had no faults, we would not derive so much pleasure from noting those of other people.
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The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.
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A small degree of wit, accompanied by good sense, is less tiresome in the long run than a great amount of wit without it.
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There are heroes of wickedness, as there are of goodness.
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The greater part of mankind judge of men only by their fashionableness or their fortune.
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The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.
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All who know their own minds know not their own hearts.
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Madmen and fools see everything through the medium of humor.
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We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.
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Some disguised deceits counterfeit truth so perfectly that not to be taken in by them would be an error of judgment.
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Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful.
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