Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The following are quotes from Francois de La Rochefoucauld:
A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.
Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy those are who already possess it.
Few are agreeable in conversation, because each thinks of what he intends to say than of what others are saying, and listens no more when he himself has a chance to speak.
Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.
Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.
He who lives without folly isn't so wise as he thinks.
If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others.
It is a great ability to be able to conceal one's ability.
It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
Jealousy feeds upon suspicion, and it turns into fury or it ends as soon as we pass from suspicion to certainty.
Old people like to give good advice, as solace for no longer being able to provide bad examples.
Our repentance is not so much regret for the ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us in consequence.
Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady.
Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them.
The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it.
The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it.
The pleasure of love is in loving.
To establish oneself in the world, one has to do all one can to appear established.
To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.
We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others.
We always like those who admire us we do not always like those whom we admire.
We confess our little faults to persuade people that we have no large ones.
We rarely think people have good sense unless they agree with us.
We should manage our fortunes as we do our health - enjoy it when good, be patient when it is bad, and never apply violent remedies except in an extreme necessity.
We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood our motives.
When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person
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