François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

“Every one speaks well of his own heart, but no one dares speak well of his own mind.”

“Instead of considering that the worst way to persuade or please others is to try thus strongly to please ourselves, and that to listen well and to answer well are some of the greatest charms we can have in conversation.”

“The most sure method of subjecting yourself to be deceived is to consider yourself more cunning than others.”

“Even women are perfect at the outset.”

“Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while.”

“Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones; just as the wind blows out candles, but kindles fires.”

“Flattery is a counterfeit money which, but for vanity, would have no circulation.”

“The pleasure of love is in loving; we are happier in the passion we feel than in what we inspire.”

“We easily forget our faults when no one knows them but ourselves.”

“There are reproaches which praise, and praises which defame.”

“A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.”

“To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.”

“When our hatred is too alive puts us below what we hate.”

“We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.”

“We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.”

“The sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.”

“Not all those who know their minds know their hearts as well.”

“If we did not have pride, we would not complain of it in others.”

“Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.”

“The intellect is always fooled by the heart.”

“There are very few people who are not ashamed of having been in love when they no longer love each other.”

“Boredom ... causes us to neglect more duties than does interest.”

“There is many a virtuous woman weary of her trade.”

“What often prevents our abandoning ourselves to a single vice is, our having more than one.”

“We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.”