Francois de La Rochefoucauld May Quotations

We may seem great in an employment below our worth, but we very often look little in one that is too big for us.

We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do.

We may say of agreeableness, as distinct from beauty, that it is a symmetry whose rules are unknown.

To praise great actions with sincerity may be said to be taking part in them.

Man only blames himself in order that he may be praised.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of those who converse with us, we always believe they will tell us more truth than they do to others.

It may be said that the vices await us in the journey of life like hosts with whom we must successively lodge; and I doubt whether experience would make us avoid them if we were to travel the same road a second time.

That man, we may be sure, is a person of true worth, whom those who envy him most are yet forced to praise.

Praise is a more ingenious, concealed, and subtle kind of flattery, that satisfies both the giver and the receiver, though by verydifferent ways. The one accepts it as a reward due to his merit; the other gives it that he may be looked upon as a just and discerning person.

A respectable man may love madly, but not foolishly.

One man may be more cunning than another, but no one can be more cunning than all the world.

Our repentances are generally not so much a concern and remorse for the harm we have done, as a fear of the harm we may have brought upon ourselves.

A man may be sharper than another, but not than all others.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.

One may outwit another, but not all the others.

There may be talent without position, but there is no position without some kind of talent.

We may give advice, but not the sense to use it.

Some allow themselves to be overcome by panic, and others charge because they dare not remain at their posts. Some may be found whose courage is strengthened by small perils that prepare them to face greater dangers. Some are daring when facing swords but dread facing bullets; others dread bullets little but fear facing swords a lot.

It is much better to learn to deal with the ills we have now than to speculate on those that may befall us.

How deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us on pleasantly to the end of life.

No accidents are so unlucky [bad] but that the wise may draw some advantage [good] from them...

Whatever pretext we may give for our affections, often it is only interest and vanity which cause them.

However much we may distrust men's sincerity, we always believe they speak to us more sincerely than to others.

However evil men may be they dare not be openly hostile to virtue, and so when they want to attack it they pretend to find it spurious , or impute crimes to it.

There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice.

Men may boast of their great actions; but they are more often the effects of chance than of design.

Those who have the most cunning affect all their lives to condemn cunning; that they may make use of it on some great occasion, and to some great end.

However we may conceal our passions under the veil ... there is always some place where they peep out.

Taste may change, but inclination never.

There are no accidents so unlucky but the prudent may draw some advantage from them.

A gentleman may love like a lunatic, but not like a beast.