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Moderation is a fear of falling into that envy and contempt which those who grow giddy with their good fortune quite justly draw upon themselves. It is a vain boasting of the greatness of our mind.

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
Fall
Draws
Justly
Mind
Greatness
Boast
Good
Fortune
Moderation
Grow
Contempt
Quite
Falling
Grows
Envy
Upon
Vain
Boasting
Fear
Draw
Giddy

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When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
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We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.
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Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.
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Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
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For envy, like lightning, generally strikes at the top Or any point which sticks out from the ordinary level. LUCRETIUS, De Rerum Natura Our envy always outlives the felicity of its object.
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We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do.
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Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.
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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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The great interests of man: air and light, the joy of having a body, the voluptuousness of looking.
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He who lives without committing any folly is not so wise as he thinks. [Fr., Qui vit sans folie n'est pas si sage qu'il croit.]
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However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her.
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True bravery means doing alone that which one could do if all the world were by.
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Silence is the safest policy if you are unsure of yourself.
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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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The blindness of men is the most dangerous effect of their pride it seems to nourish and augment it it deprives them of knowledge of remedies which can solace their miseries and can cure their faults.
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If we did not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never harm us.
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