Quote

What we take for high-mindedness is very often no other than ambition well disguised, that scorns means interests, only to pursuegreater.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

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
Mean
Ambition
High
Interest
Scorns
Means
Mindedness
Often
Disguised
Wells
Nobility
Well
Scorn
Take
Interests

More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Image
We do not lack strength so much as the will to use it and very often our imagining that things are impossible is nothing but an excuse of our own contriving, to reconcile ourselves to our own idleness.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We may give advice, but not the sense to use it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We sometimes imagine we hate flattery, but we only hate the way we are flattered.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
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
Image
We always love those who admire us, but we do not always love those whom we admire.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
The accent of a man's native country remains in his mind and his heart, as it does in his speech.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Whatever pretended causes we may blame our afflictions upon, it is often nothing but self-interest and vanity that produce them.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Our desires always disappoint us for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation. [However disappointment can always be removed if we remember it could have turned out worse.]
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
It is easier to rule others than to keep from being ruled oneself.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We come altogether fresh and raw into the several stages of life, and often find ourselves without experience, despite our years.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
To be a great man it is necessary to turn to account all opportunities.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
We often brag that we are never bored with ourselves, and are so vain as never to think ourselves bad company.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Self-love makes our friends appear more or less deserving in proportion to the delight we take in them, and the measures by whichwe judge of their worth depend upon the manner of their conversing with us.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
For the credit of virtue we must admit that the greatest misfortunes of men are those into which they fall through their crimes.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
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
Image
In every walk of life each man puts on a personality and outward appearance so as to look what he wants to be thought in fact you might say that society is entirely made up of assumed personalities.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
The mind is always the patsy of the heart.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Image
Some reproaches praise some praises reproach.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld