1,221 Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld

The generality of friends puts us out of conceit with friendship; just as the generality of religious people puts us out of conceit with religion.

We often bore others when we think we cannot possibly bore them.

Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for their inability to give bad examples.

Virtue would go far if vanity did not keep it company.

Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones; just as the wind blows out candles, but kindles fires.

Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see.

If we did not have pride, we would not complain of it in others.

A man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.

Commonplace minds usually condemn what is beyond the reach of their understanding.