Francois de La Rochefoucauld Ridiculous Quotations

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.

That conduct often seems ridiculous the secret reasons of which are wise and solid.

Those who are overreached by our cunning are far from appearing to us as ridiculous as we appear to ourselves when the cunning of others has overreached us.

Raillery is more insupportable than wrong; because we have a right to resent injuries, but are ridiculous in being angry at a jest.

The qualities we have do not make us so ridiculous as those which we affect to have. [Fr., On n'est jamais si ridicule par les qualites que l'on a que par celles que l'on affecte d'avoir.]

A man is ridiculous less through the characteristics he has than through those he affects to have.

The qualities we have, make us so ridiculous as those which we affect.

Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.

It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.

It is as proper to have pride in oneself as it ridiculous to show it to others.