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We give advice, we do not inspire conduct.

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
Inspire
Advice
Inspiration
Give
Giving
Conduct

More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something.
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As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.
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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.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Those great and glorious actions that dazzle our eyes with their luster are represented by statesmen as the result of great wisdomand excellent design whereas, in truth, they are commonly the effects of the humors and passions.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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There are two sorts of constancy in love one arises from continually discovering in the loved person new subjects for love, the other arises from our making a merit of being constant.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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It is most difficult to speak when we are ashamed of being silent.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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What often prevents our abandoning ourselves to a single vice is, our having more than one.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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As we grow older, we increase in folly--and in wisdom.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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In the human heart one generation of passions follows another from the ashes of one springs the spark of the next.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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The most subtle of our acts is to simulate blindness for snares that we know are set for us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the manner in which it is done. [Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie maid on ne hait que a maniere de flatter.]
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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We often in our misfortunes take that for constancy and patience which is only dejection of mind we suffer without daring to holdup our heads, just as cowards let themselves be knocked on the head because they have not courage to strike back.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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What makes us so bitter against people who outwit us is that they think themselves cleverer than we are.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Moderation resembles temperance. We are not so unwilling to eat more, as afraid of doing ourselves harm by it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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There is nothing men are so generous of as advice.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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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.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld