Francois VI Duc de La Rochefoucauld
Francois VI Duc de La Rochefoucauld
desire lead sufficient ways
There are ways which lead to everything, and if we have sufficient will we should always have sufficient means.
cannot contentment seek useless
When we cannot find contentment in ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.
badly egotism ourselves rather speak talk
We would rather speak badly of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.
actions ashamed behind finest motives understood
We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood all the motives behind them.
affect qualities quality ridiculous
We are never so ridiculous by the qualities we have, as by those we affect to have.
happiness happy nor unhappy
We are never so happy nor so unhappy as we imagine.
absence blows candles great increases mediocre passions wind
Absence weakens mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind blows out candles and kindles fires.
absence candles diminishes fans great increases passions wind
Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire.
born certain envy great qualities sign
The most certain sign of being born with great qualities is to be born without envy
failure means people rather
It is for want of application, rather than of means that people fail,
cleverness conceal great
It is great cleverness to know how to conceal our cleverness.
advice deceived mistrust shameful
It is more shameful to mistrust one's friends than to be deceived by them
easy others wisdom wise
It is more easy to be wise for others than for ourselves.
french-writer frequently vices virtues
Our virtues are most frequently but vices in disguise.