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There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.

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
Turn
Fools
Wise
Accident
Turns
Accidents
May
Entirely
Make
Fortunate
Men
Prejudice
Advantage
Fool
Unfortunate

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Men and things have each their proper perspective to judge rightly of some it is necessary to see them near, of others we can never judge rightly but at a distance.
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We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of what we have, thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy.
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Our good qualities expose us more to hatred and persecution than all the ill we do.
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The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so.
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In friendship, as in love, we are often more happy from the things we are ignorant of than from those we are acquainted with.
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Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.
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Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful.
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The clemency of Princes is often but policy to win the affections of the people.
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A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.
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We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.
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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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It is often laziness and timidity that keep us within our duty while virtue gets all the credit.
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Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.
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All our qualities, whether good or bad, are unstable and ambiguous, and almost all are at the mery of chance.
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Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.
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The contempt of riches in philosophers was only a hidden desire to avenge their merit upon the injustice of fortune, by despising the very goods of which fortune had deprived them it was a secret to guard themselves against the degradation of poverty, it was a back way by which to arrive at that distinction which they could not gain by riches.
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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.
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Happy people rarely correct their faults they consider themselves vindicated, since fortune endorses their evil ways.
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Our hopes, often though they deceive us, lead us pleasantly along the path of life.
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Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.
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