Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and even sometimes renders the most foolish man clever.
François de La Rochefoucauld
The glory of great men should always be measured against the means they used to acquire it.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Some people's faults are becoming to them; others are disgraced by their own good traits.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Those who apply themselves too much to little things often become incapable of great ones.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Luck must be dealt with like health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.
François de La Rochefoucauld
We should often be ashamed of our very best actions if the world only saw the motives which caused them.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Sometimes it is pleasant for a husband to have a jealous wife: he always hears what he loves being talked about.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Philosophy triumphs easily over past and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.
François de La Rochefoucauld
There is scarcely a single man sufficiently aware to know all the evil he does.
François de La Rochefoucauld
It is less dangerous to treat most men badly than to treat them too well.
François de La Rochefoucauld
Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.
François de La Rochefoucauld
However rare true love may be, true friendship is rarer.
Variant: Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer
François de La Rochefoucauld
In their first passion, women love their lovers; in all the others, they love love.
François de La Rochefoucauld
There are foolish people who recognize their foolishness and use it skillfully.
François de La Rochefoucauld
There are many predicaments in life that one must be a bit crazy to escape from.
François de La Rochefoucauld
