Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on men
Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues and vices, and to have determined how good or how wicked that man shall be capable of being. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on nature
Though nature be ever so generous, yet can she not make a hero alone. Fortune must contribute her part too and till both concur, the work cannot be perfected. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on nature
We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on patience
If we have not peace within ourselves, it is in vain to seek it from outward sources. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on peace
No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on power
It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love long, where it really is, nor to counterfeit it long where it is not. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on power
Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable, and have every word received with a religious respect. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on respect
There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on society
If we resist our passions, it is more due to their weakness than our strength. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on strength
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on time
We are so used to dissembling with others that in time we come to deceive and dissemble with ourselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on time
However greatly we distrust the sincerity of those we converse with, yet still we think they tell more truth to us than to anyone else. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on truth
Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on truth
Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance. Francois de La Rochefoucauld on truth