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The art of using moderate abilities to advantage often brings greater results than actual brilliance

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
Ability
Brilliance
Often
Abilities
Art
Actual
Brings
Using
Advantage
Results
Moderate
Greater
Moderates

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Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable, and have every word received with a religious respect.
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That conduct often seems ridiculous the secret reasons of which are wise and solid.
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The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect of their pride it seems to nourish and augment it it deprives them of knowledge of remedies which can solace their miseries and can cure their faults.
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The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for snares that we know are set for us.
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What we take for high-mindedness is very often no other than ambition well disguised, that scorns means interests, only to pursuegreater.
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He who lives without folly isn't so wise as he thinks.
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It is often hard to determine whether a clear, open, and honorable proceeding is the result of goodness or of cunning.
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Men are often so foolish as to boast and value themselves upon their passions, even those that are most vicious. But envy is a passion so full of cowardice and shame that no one every ever had the confidence to own it.
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Though confidence is very fine, and makes the future sunny I want no confidence for mine, I'd rather have the money
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However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass for great if it be not the effect of wisdom and intention.
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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.
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We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.
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Eloquence: saying the proper thing and stopping.
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It is easier to rule others than to keep from being ruled oneself.
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Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.
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There are heroes of wickedness, as there are of goodness.
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There are people who would never have been in love, had they never heard love spoken of.
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The applause we give those who are new to society often proceeds from a secret envying of those already established.
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Self-love is the love of a man's own self, and of everything else for his own sake. It makes people idolaters to themselves, and tyrants to all the world besides.
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The most violent passions sometimes leave us at rest, but vanity agitates us constantly.
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