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Eloquence: saying the proper thing and stopping.

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
Eloquence
Stopping
Proper
Speech
Saying
Thing

More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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Avarice often produces opposite results: there are an infinite number of persons who sacrifice their property to doubtful and distant expectations others mistake great future advantages for small present interests.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Fortune mends more faults in us than ever reason would be able to do.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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A wise man should order his interests, and set them all in their proper places. This order is often troubled by greed, which putsus upon pursuing so many things at once that, in eagerness for matters of less consideration, we grasp at trifles, and let go things of greater value.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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We come altogether fresh and raw into the several stages of life, and often find ourselves without experience, despite our years.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Silence is the safest policy if you are unsure of yourself.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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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
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Ability wins us the esteem of the true men luck, that of the people.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Whatever ignominy or disgrace we have incurred, it is almost always in our power to reestablish our reputation.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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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
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There are very few people who are not ashamed of having been in love when they no longer love each other.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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The applause we give those who are new to society often proceeds from a secret envying of those already established.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Though nature be ever so generous, yet can she not make a hero alone. Fortune must contribute her part too and till both concur, the work cannot be perfected.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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One kind of happiness is to know exactly at what point to be miserable.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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It is as easy to deceive one's self without perceiving it, as it is difficult to deceive others without their finding out.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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When our hatred is too alive puts us below what we hate.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld