Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillacla ʁɔʃfuˈko]; 15 September 1613 – 17 March 1680) was a noted French author of maxims and memoirs. It is said that his world-view was clear-eyed and urbane, and that he neither condemned human conduct nor sentimentally celebrated it. Born in Paris on the Rue des Petits Champs, at a time when the royal court was vacillating between aiding the nobility and threatening it, he was considered an exemplar of the accomplished 17th-century...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth15 September 1613
CountryFrance
Though confidence is very fine, and makes the future sunny; I want no confidence for mine, I'd rather have the money
If vanity does not entirely overthrow the virtues, at least it makes them all totter.
What we take for virtue is often nothing but an assemblage of different actions, and of different interests, that fortune or our industry knows how to arrange.
We should only affect compassion, and carefully avoid having any.
The height of ability consists in a thorough knowledge of the real value of things, and of the genius of the age in which we live.
It is easier to understand mankind in general than any individual man.
To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.
It is as commendable to think well of oneself when alone, as it is ridiculous to speak well of oneself among others.
Moderation is an ostentatious proof of our strength of character....
In the intercourse of life, we please more by our faults than by our good qualities.
The constancy of sages is nothing but the art of locking up their agitation in their hearts.
We often shed tears that deceive ourselves after deceiving others.
You are never so easily fooled as when trying to fool someone else.
Our actions are like the terminations of verses, which we rhyme as we please.