1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

The sicknesses of the soul have their ups and downs like those of the body; what we take to be a cure is most often merely a respite or change of disease.

The person giving the advice returns the confidence placed in him with a disinterested eagerness... and he is usually guided only by his own interest or reputation.

Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others.

Madmen and fools see everything through the medium of humor.

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the manner in which it is done. [Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie; maid on ne hait que a maniere de flatter.]

Sometimes there is equal or more ability in knowing how to use good advice than there is in giving it.

In every walk of life each man puts on a personality and outward appearance so as to look what he wants to be thought; in fact you might say that society is entirely made up of assumed personalities.

When the philosophers despised riches, it was because they had a mind to vindicate their own merit, and take revenge upon the injustice of fortune by vilifying those enjoyments which she had not given them.

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.