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The largest ambition has the least appearance of ambition when it meets with an absolute impossibility in compassing its object.

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
Appearance
Object
Ambition
Objects
Meets
Least
Impossibility
Largest
Absolutes
Absolute

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We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.
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When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of a passion it is proner to take up a new one than when wholly cured.
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What is called liberality is often merely the vanity of giving.
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The constancy of sages is nothing but the art of locking up their agitation in their hearts.
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To be a great man it is necessary to know how to profit by the whole of our good fortune.
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No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.
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Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others.
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We should not be much concerned about faults we have the courage to own.
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Penetration has an air of divination it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.
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Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.
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Female gossips are generally actuated by active ignorance.
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Women know not the whole of their coquetry.
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When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
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Some people are so extremely whiffling and inconsiderable that they are as far from any real faults as from substantial virtues.
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It is as common for tastes to change as it is uncommon for traits of character.
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Envy is more incapable of reconciliation than hatred is.
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