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To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.
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
Possess
Consequences
Consequence
Praise
Virtue
Princes
Fear
Parliament
Without
Virtues
Insult
More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Neither the sun nor death can be looked at steadily.
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Considering how little the beginning or the ceasing to love is in our own power, it is foolish and unreasonable for the lover or his mistress to complain of one another's inconstancy.
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Loyalty is in most people only a ruse used by self-interest to attract confidence.
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People are often vain of their passions, even of the worst, but envy is a passion so timid and shame-faced that no one ever dare avow her.
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Numberless arts appear foolish whose secret motives are most wise and weighty.
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We are better pleased to see those on whom we confer benefits than those from whom we receive them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Vices are ingredients of virtues just as poisons are ingredients of remedies. Prudence mixes and tempers them and uses them effectively against life's ills.
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Madmen and fools see everything through the medium of humor.
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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.
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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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Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.
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There are very few things impossible in themselves and we do not want means to conquer difficulties so much as application and resolution in the use of means.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Women know not the whole of their coquetry.
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Friendship is a traffic wherein self-love always proposes to be the gainer.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Funeral pomp is more for the vanity of the living than for the honor of the dead.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Our minds are as much given to laziness as our bodies.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Love has its name borrowed by a great number of dealings and affairs that are attributed to it--in which it has no greater part than the Doge in what is done at Venice.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
As uncommon a thing as true love is, it is yet easier to find than true friendship.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Love often leads on to ambition, but seldom does one return from ambition to love.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
