French author (1613-1680)
The head is always the bubble of the heart.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Madmen and fools see everything through the medium of humor.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
That conduct often seems ridiculous the secret reasons of which are wise and solid.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Kings make men as they do pieces of money; they put what value they please on them, and we are compelled to receive them according to the value put on them, and not according to their true worth.
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
attributed, Day's Collacon
The simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
However wicked men may be, they do not dare openly to appear the enemies of virtue, and when they desire to persecute her they either pretend to believe her false or attribute crimes to her.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
We often glory in the most criminal passions; but envy is a shameful passion we never dare own.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The most violent passions have their intermissions; vanity alone gives us no respite.
LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
attributed, Day's Collacon
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
Reflections
Only great men have great faults.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The character of a man's native country is as strongly impressed on his mind as its accent is on his tongue.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age we live in.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The common practice of cunning is a sign of small genius; and it almost always happens that those who use it to cover themselves in one place, lay themselves open in another.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The surest way to be deceived is to think oneself more clever than others.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Maxims
We seldom find people ungrateful so long as we are in a condition to render them service.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Maxims and Moral Reflections
Our virtues are usually just vices in disguise.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Most women lament not the death of their lovers so much out of real affection for them, as because they would appear worthy of love.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Nothing is so catching as example.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world can't do without him is yet more mistaken.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Hope and fear are inseparable.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims