"The passions possess a certain injustice and..." - Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld
The passions possess a certain injustice and self interest which makes it dangerous to follow them, and in reality we should distrust them even when they appear most trustworthy.
More by Francois De La Rochefoucauld
“Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.”
“There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.”
“It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love long, where it really is, nor to counterfeit it long where it is not.”
More on Passions
“Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it.”
“The passions of youth are not more dangerous to health than is the lukewarmness of old age.”
“Moderation cannot have the credit of combatiug and subduing ambition, they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and indolence of the soul, as ambition is its activity and ardor.”
More on Self Interest
“It seems that for some people the idea of compassion entails a complete disregard for or even a sacrifice of their own interests. This is not the case. In fact, you first of all have to have a wish to be happy yourself - if you don't love yourself like that, how can you love others?”
“Men have a singular desire to be good without being good for anything, because, perchance, they think vaguely that so it will be good for them in the end.”
“A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.”