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The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are infallible and the simplest man with passion is more persuasive than the most eloquent without it.

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
Rules
Orators
Passion
Oratory
Natural
Persuasive
Art
Infallible
Without
Persuade
Always
Eloquent
Men
Simplest
Passions

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The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.
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A lofty mind always thinks nobly, it easily creates vivid, agreeable, and natural fancies, places them in their best light, clothes them with all appropriate adornments, studies others' tastes, and clears away from its own thoughts all that is useless and disagreeable.
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No fools are so difficult to manage as those with some brains.
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We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.
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The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.
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We are eager to believe that others are flawed because we are eager to believe in what we wish for.
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On why I don't trust democracy without extremely powerful systems of accountability and recall What seems to be generosity is often only disguised ambition - which despises small interests to gain great ones.
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Self-love increases or diminishes for us the good qualities of our friends, in proportion to the satisfaction we feel with them and we judge of their merit by the manner in which they act towards us.
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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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There are two things which Man cannot look at directly without flinching: the sun and death.
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To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.
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Sincerity is a certain openness of heart. It is to be found in very few, and what we commonly look upon to be so is only a cunningsort of dissimulation, to insinuate ourselves into the confidence of others.
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Youth is a continual intoxication it is the fever of reason.
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When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
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One should treat one's fate as one does one's health enjoy it when it is good, be patient with it when it is poor, and never attempt any drastic cure save as an ultimate resort.
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If we did not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never harm us.
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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.
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There are some bad qualities which make great talents.
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The only security is courage.
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Old fools are greater fools than young ones.
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