Quotes by La Rochefoucauld, Francois De

"In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on professions and professionals   

"It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold, than of the office which one fills."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on promotion   

"The intellect is always fooled by the heart."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on psychology   

"We are never so ridiculous by the qualities we have, as by those we affect to have."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on quality   

"One can find women who have never had one love affair, but it is rare indeed to find any who have had only one."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on relationship   

"We have more ability than will power, and it is often an excuse to ourselves that we imagine that things are impossible."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on resolution   

"Honest people will respect us for our merit: the public, for our luck."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on respectability   

"How can we accept another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on secrets
5 fans of this quote   

"The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on self-esteem   

"Lovers never get tired of each other because they are forever talking about themselves."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on selfishness   

"The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on shame   

"Weak people cannot be sincere."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on sincerity
4 fans of this quote   

"If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on speakers and speaking   

"Passions are the only orators to always convinces us."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on speakers and speaking   

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

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on strength   

"Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on style   

"To know how to hide one's ability is great skill."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on ability
6 fans of this quote   

"The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age in which we live."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on ability   

"Our actions are like the terminations of verses, which we rhyme as we please."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on action   

"We like to see others, but don't like others to see through us."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on behavior   

"Few persons have sufficient wisdom to prefer censure, which is useful, to praise which deceives them."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on censure   

"There is such a thing as a general revolution which changes the taste of men as it changes the fortunes of the world."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on change   

"Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on character   

"There are few virtuous women who are not bored with their trade."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on chastity   

"The only thing that should surprise us is that there are still some things that can surprise us."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on surprises
4 fans of this quote   

"Taste may change, but inclination never."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on taste   

"The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on temper   

"Timidity is a fault for which it is dangerous to reprove persons whom we wish to correct of it."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on timidity   

"Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on valor
3 fans of this quote   

"What makes vanity so insufferable to us, is that it hurts our own."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on vanity   

"We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on vice   

"We are more often treacherous, through weakness than through calculation."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on weakness   

"It is more easy to be wise for others than for ourselves."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on wisdom   

This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

"It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on wisdom   

"As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on wisdom   

"It's the height of folly to want to be the only wise one."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on wisdom   

"The common foible of women who have been handsome is to forget that they are no longer so."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on women   

"Bodily labor alleviates the pains of the mind and from this arises the happiness of the poor."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on work   

"He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on world   

"There are few people who are more often in the wrong than those who cannot endure to be so."

La Rochefoucauld, Francois De on wrong