1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present are commonly too hard for it.

The world is full of pots jeering at kettles.

There are some people upon whom their very faults and failings sit gracefully; and there are others whose very excellencies and accomplishments do not become them.

What makes vanity so insufferable to us, is that it hurts our own.

Humility is often only a feigned submissiveness by which men hope to bring other people to submit to them; it is a more calculated sort of pride.

Before strongly desiring anything, we should look carefully into the happiness of its present owner.

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.

We have not enough strength to follow all our reason.

A resolution never to deceive exposes a man to be often deceived.