French author (1613-1680)
Whatever difference may appear in men's fortunes, there is nevertheless a certain compensation of good and ill that makes all equal.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Men may boast of their great actions; but they are more often the effects of chance than of design.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The clemency of Princes is often but policy to win the affections of the people.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
The desire of appearing persons of ability often prevents our being so.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Those who apply themselves too much to little things commonly become incapable of great ones.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
To be a great man one should know how to profit by every phase of fortune.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
A fool has not stuff enough to make a good man.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
A man often imagines that he acts, when he is acted upon.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful.
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 should manage our fortune as our constitution; enjoy it when good, have patience when 'tis bad, and never apply violent remedies but in cases of necessity.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Passions often produce their contraries: avarice sometimes leads to prodigality, and prodigality to avarice; we are often obstinate through weakness and daring through timidity.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
attributed, Wisdom for the Soul: Five Millennia of Prescriptions for Spiritual Healing
We may appear great in an employment below our merit; but we often appear little in an employment that is too great for us.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
We sometimes condemn the present, by praising the past; and show our contempt of what is now, by our esteem for what is no more.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
There are crimes which become innocent, and even glorious, through their splendor, number, and excess: Hence it is, that public theft is called Address, and to seize on Provinces unjustly, to make Conquests.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
Men are more satirical from vanity than from malice.
FRANCOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Maxims
The dullness of certain people is sometimes a sufficient security against the attack of an artful man.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims
The only good copies are those that point out the ridicule of bad originals.
FRANÇOIS DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Moral Maxims