Share
×
Inspirational Quotes
Authors
Professions
Topics
Tags
Quote
If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Share
Change background
T
T
T
Change font
Original
TAGS & TOPICS
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
Silent
Purpose
Less
Speak
Great
Tact
Speakers
Requires
More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Those only are despicable who fear to be despised.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Only the great can afford to have great defects.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love long, where it really is, nor to counterfeit it long where it is not.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The cunningest dissimulation is when a man pretends to be caught in the traps others set for him and a man is never so easily over-reached as when he is contriving to over-reach others.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The wind which snuffs the candle fans the fire.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The good or the bad fortune of men depends not less upon their own dispositions than upon fortune.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Our wisdom lies as much at the mercy of fortune as our possessions do.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Truth has scarce done so much good in the world as the false appearances of it have done hurt.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Bravery in simple soldiers is a dangerous trade, to which they have bound themselves to get their livelihood.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We are better pleased to see those on whom we confer benefits than those from whom we receive them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
If one judges love by the majority of its effects, it is more like hatred than like friendship.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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
To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The soul's maladies have their relapses like the body's. What we take for a cure is often just a momentary rally or a new form of the disease.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly draw upon themselves. It is a vain boasting of the greatness of our mind.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We rarely ever perceive others as being sensible, except for those who agree with us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
