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
To be a great man it is necessary to turn to account all opportunities.
High fortune makes both our virtues and vices stand out as objects that are brought clearly to view by the light.
Few things are impossible in themselves: application to make them succeed fails us more often than the means.
Fortune turns all things to the advantage of those on whom she smiles.
Sometimes a fool has talent, but never judgment.
Our merit gains us the esteem of the virtuous-our star that of the public.
Whatever ignominy or disgrace we have incurred, it is almost always in our power to reestablish our reputation.
Moderation is caused by the fear of exciting the envy and contempt which those merit who are intoxicated with their good fortune; it is a vain display of our strength of mind, and in short the moderation of men at their greatest height is only a desire to appear greater than their fortune.
Nothing is rarer than true good nature; they who are reputed to have it are generally only pliant or weak.
A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.
Gratitude, in most men, is only a strong and secret hope of greater favors.
The passions often engender their contraries.
It is as common for tastes to change as it is uncommon for traits of character.
Selfishness is the grand moving principle of nine-tenths of our actions.