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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.

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
Upon
Goods
Philosophers
Desire
Gain
Arrive
Back
Philosopher
Guard
Way
Injustice
Contempt
Gains
Riches
Despising
Fortune
Distinction
Avenge
Poverty
Merit
Degradation
Secret
Hidden
Deprived

More quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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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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He who refuses praise the first time that it is offered does so because he would hear it a second time.
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We rarely ever perceive others as being sensible, except for those who agree with us.
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As we grow older we grow both more foolish and wiser at the same time.
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The health of the soul is something we can be no more sure of than that of the body and though a man may seem far from the passions, yet he is in as much danger of falling into them as one in a perfect state of health of having a fit of sickness.
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Our concern for the loss of our friends is not always from a sense of their worth, but rather of our own need of them and that we have lost some who had a good opinion of us.
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No one thinks fortune so blind as those she has been least kind to.
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None deserve praise for being good who have not the spirit to be bad: goodness, for the most part, is nothing but indolence or weakness of will.
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The appearances of goodness and merit often meet with a greater reward from the world than goodness and merit themselves.
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Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves succeed.
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Self-interest speaks all manner of tongues and plays all manner of parts, even that of disinterestedness.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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What renders other people's vanity insufferable is that it wounds our own.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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There are heroes of wickedness, as there are of goodness.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Though confidence is very fine, and makes the future sunny I want no confidence for mine, I'd rather have the money
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves nor take away from themselves.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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Avarice is more directly opposed to thrift than generosity is.
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However greatly we distrust the sincerity of those we converse with, yet still we think they tell more truth to us than to anyone else.
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There are follies as catching as contagious disorders.
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We only confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no big ones.
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