1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.

Penetration has an air of divination; it pleases our vanity more than any other quality of the mind.

The surest proof of being endowed with noble qualities is to be free from envy.

We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.

No matter how brilliant an action, it should not be considered great unless it was the result of a great motive.

There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.

The greatest part of intimate confidences proceed from a desire either to be pitied or admired.

When our hatred is violent, it sinks us even beneath those we hate.

We often see malefactors, when they are led to execution, put on resolution and a contempt of death which, in truth, is nothing else but fearing to look it in the face--so that this pretended bravery may very truly be said to do the same good office to their mind that the blindfold does to their eyes.