1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

In friendship, as in love, we are often more happy from the things we are ignorant of than from those we are acquainted with.

Passion makes idiots of the cleverest men, and makes the biggest idiots clever.

It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal one's ability.

Pity is a sense of our own misfortunes in those of another man; it is a sort of foresight of the disasters which may befall ourselves. We assist others,, in order that they may assist us on like occasions; so that the services we offer to the unfortunate are in reality so many anticipated kindnesses to ourselves.

Love's greatest miracle is the curing of coquetry.

The violence done us by others is often less painful than that which we do to ourselves.

High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light.

We are never either so fortunate or so misfortunate as we imagine.

We rarely ever perceive others as being sensible, except for those who agree with us.