1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

Moral severity in women is only a dress or paint which they use to set off their beauty.

There may be talent without position, but there is no position without some kind of talent.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.

It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold, than of the office which one fills.

We often shed tears that deceive ourselves after deceiving others.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than they do to others.

The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the world.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

There are some bad qualities which make great talents.