François de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

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The glory of great men should always be measured against the means they used to acquire it.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and even sometimes renders the most foolish man clever.

François de La Rochefoucauld
In jealousy there is more of self-love than love.

François de La Rochefoucauld
We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire.

François de La Rochefoucauld
We may bestow advice, but we cannot inspire the conduct.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Some condemnations praise; some praise damns.

François de La Rochefoucauld
The love of justice in most men is simply the fear of suffering injustice.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Temperance is the love of health — or the inability to eat or drink much.

François de La Rochefoucauld
There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand different versions.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Were we perfectly acquainted with our idol, we should never passionately desire it.

François de La Rochefoucauld
We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all of the motives which produced them.

François de La Rochefoucauld
We are by no means aware how much we are influenced by our passions.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Passion often makes a fool of the wisest man, and often makes the greatest fools wise.

François de La Rochefoucauld
In friendship and in love, one is often happier because of what one does not know than what one knows.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Civility is a desire to receive civility, and to be accounted well bred.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Everyone complains of his memory, and no one complains of his judgement.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Old people like to give good advice, as solace for no longer being able to provide bad examples.

François de La Rochefoucauld
The reason why lovers never weary of each other's company is because they speak always of themselves.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Absence abates a moderate passion and intensifies a great one - as the wind blows out a candle but fans fire into flame.

François de La Rochefoucauld
When the vices give us up, we flatter ourselves that we are giving up them.

François de La Rochefoucauld
The vivacity which increases with old age is not so far removed from folly.

François de La Rochefoucauld
There is an eloquent silence: it serves sometimes to approve, sometimes to condemn; there is a mocking silence; there is a respectful silence.

François de La Rochefoucauld
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.

François de La Rochefoucauld
We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others.

François de La Rochefoucauld
Most people judge men only by their success or their good fortune.

François de La Rochefoucauld
The same force which serves to resist love also makes it strong and lasting; and weak people, who are always shaken by passions, are almost never fulfilled by them.

François de La Rochefoucauld
The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.

François de La Rochefoucauld
The heart of a coquette is like a rose, of which the lovers pluck the leaves, leaving only the thorns for the husband.

François de La Rochefoucauld
None laugh better, and oftener, than women with fine teeth.

François de La Rochefoucauld
If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others.

François de La Rochefoucauld