1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

Hope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.

Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.

Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.

The older a fool is, the worse he is.

Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing.

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

Nothing is so contagious as example; never was there any considerable good or ill done that does not produce its like. We imitate good actions through emulation, and had ones through a malignity in our nature, which shame conceals, and example sets at liberty.

The only good copies are those which make us see the absurdity of bad originals.

We often pardon those that annoy us, but we cannot pardon those we annoy.