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We should wish for few things with eagerness, if we perfectly knew the nature of that which was the object of our desire.
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
Nature
Things
Eagerness
Perfectly
Object
Objects
Knew
Wish
Desire
More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Men are inconsolable concerning the treachery of their friends or the deceptions of their enemies and yet they are often very highly satisfied to be both deceived and betrayed by their own selves.
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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.
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Pity is a sense of our own misfortunes in those of another man it is a sort of foresight of the disasters which may befall ourselves. We assist others,, in order that they may assist us on like occasions so that the services we offer to the unfortunate are in reality so many anticipated kindnesses to ourselves.
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It is worth nothing to be young without being beautiful, nor to be beautiful without being young.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Were we perfectly acquainted with the object, we should never passionately desire it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We often brag that we are never bored with ourselves, and are so vain as never to think ourselves bad company.
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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.
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As we grow older we grow both more foolish and wiser at the same time.
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One kind of flirtation is to boast we never flirt.
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A man's wits are better employed in bearing up under the misfortunes that lie upon him at present than in foreseeing those that may come upon him hereafter.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.
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No men are oftener wrong than those that can least bear to be so.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Men's happiness and misery depends altogether as much upon their own humor as it does upon fortune.
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Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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.
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