Francois de la Rochefoucauld Quotes - Maxims

He who lives without folly isn't so wise as he thinks.

He is not to pass for a man of reason who stumbles upon reason by chance but he who knows it and can judge it and has a true taste for it.

Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves.

Usually we praise only to be praised.

A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.

As great minds have the faculty of saying a great deal in a few words, so lesser minds have a talent of talking much, and saying nothing.

Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.


Conceit causes more conversation than wit.

However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.


Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.

As one grows older, one becomes wiser and more foolish.

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


How is it that we remember the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not remember how often we have recounted it to the same person?


There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of.


Only the contemptible fear contempt.

People always complain about their memories, never about their minds.

There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not.


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

Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed.

A man is sometimes as different from himself as he is from others.