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We often make use of envenomed praise, that reveals on the rebound, as it were, defects in those praised which we dare not exposeany other way.
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
Make
Reveals
Defects
Dare
Criticism
Praise
Use
Often
Rebound
Way
Praised
More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is nothing else but fearing to look it in the face--so that this pretended bravery may very truly be said to do the same good office to their mind that the blindfold does to their eyes.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
In all aspects of life, we take on a part and an appearance to seem to be what we wish to be--and thus the world is merely composed of actors.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when it meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object.
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
We are nearer loving those who hate us than those who love us more than we wish.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We should not judge a man's merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Old age is a tyrant, who forbids, under pain of death, the pleasures of youth.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Jealousy is in some measure just and reasonable, since it merely aims at keeping something that belongs to us or we think belongsto us, whereas envy is a frenzy that cannot bear anything that belongs to others.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Some weak people are so sensible of their weakness as to be able to make a good use of it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The reason we do not let our friends see the very bottom of our hearts is not so much distrust of them as distrust of ourselves.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
As great minds have the faculty of saying a great deal in a few words, so lesser minds have a talent of talking much, and saying nothing.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Indolence, languid as it is, often masters both passions and virtues.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Some follies are caught, like contagious diseases.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
If we did not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never harm us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
It is often hard to determine whether a clear, open, and honorable proceeding is the result of goodness or of cunning.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Humility is the sure evidence of Christian virtues. Without it, we retain all our faults still, and they are only covered over with pride, which hides them from other men's observation, and sometimes from our own too.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
