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Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.

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
Greatest
Merit
Greater
Envy
Desire
Appear
Intoxicated
Fear
Vain
Moderation
Mind
Fortune
Caused
Good
Exciting
Display
Men
Short
Contempt
Strength
Height

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Hatred is stronger than friendship.
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Our minds are as much given to laziness as our bodies.
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We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.
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Self-interest speaks all manner of tongues and plays all manner of parts, even that of disinterestedness.
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The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the agitation of their hearts.
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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.
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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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However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass for great if it be not the effect of wisdom and intention.
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Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.
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Some reproaches praise some praises reproach.
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Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing.
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It is as proper to have pride in oneself as it ridiculous to show it to others.
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Innocence is lucky if it finds the same protection as guilt
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Nothing is rarer than true good nature they who are reputed to have it are generally only pliant or weak.
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Politeness of mind consists in thinking chaste and refined thoughts.
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Spiritual health is no more stable than bodily and though we may seem unaffected by the passions we are just as liable to be carried away by them as to fall ill when in good health.
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Of all our faults, the one we avow most easily is idleness we persuade ourselves that it is allied to all the peaceable virtues,and as for the others, that it does not destroy them utterly, but only suspends the exercise of their functions.
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