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To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him.

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
Done
Deceived
Believe
Touching
Athenian
Men
Believing
Athenians
Ships
Madman
Merit
Belonged
Turn
Madmen
Turns
Awaken
Happy
Port

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Mediocre minds usually dismiss anything which reaches beyond their own understanding.
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Some people resemble ballads which are only sung for a certain time.
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We often credit ourselves with vices the reverse of what we have, thus when weak we boast of our obstinacy.
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The first lover is kept a long while, when no offer is made of a second.
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The good or the bad fortune of men depends not less upon their own dispositions than upon fortune.
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In love we often doubt what we most believe.
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Solemnity is a device of the body to hide the faults of the mind.
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It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.
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Sincerity is an openness of heart we find it in very few people what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the confidence of others.
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In growing old, we become more foolish - and more wise.
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A man often believes himself leader when he is led as his mind endeavors to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him towards another.
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When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.
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When we enlarge upon the affection our friends have for us, this is very often not so much out of a sense of gratitude as from a desire to persuade people of our own great worth, that can deserve so much kindness.
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Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.
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It is easier to deceive yourself, and to do so unperceived, than to deceive another.
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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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Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirized can join in the satire.
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True bravery is shown by performing without witness what one might be capable of doing before all the world.
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A good woman is a hidden treasure who discovers her will do well not to boast about it.
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There are reproaches which praise, and praises which defame.
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