Luc de
Luc de
deception sincere born
Everyone is born sincere and dies deceivers.
mind laziness idle
The idle always have a mind to do something.
nature law mankind
The law cannot equalize mankind in spite of nature.
ignorance superficial-knowledge genius
Ignorance is not lack of intelligence, nor knowledge a proof of genius.
children independent pride
Children are taught to fear and obey; the avarice, pride, or timidity of parents teaches children economy, arrogance, or submission. They are also encouraged to be imitators, a course to which they are already only too much inclined. No one thinks of making them original, courageous, independent.
few-friends prosperity
Prosperity makes few friends.
despair weakness misery
Despair exaggerates not only our misery but also our weakness.
clever wicked wickedness
The wicked are always surprised to find that the good can be clever.
men great-success projects
Men despise great projects when they do not feel themselves capable of great successes.
humble people enough
Few people are modest enough to be estimated at their true worth.
dying conscience
The conscience of the dying belies their life.
greatness men thinking
Great men undertake great things because they are great; fools, because they think them easy.
ideas circles people
Most people grow old within a small circle of ideas, which they have not discovered for themselves. There are perhaps less wrong-minded people than thoughtless.
opportunity accomplishment achievement
The greatest achievement of the human spirit is to live up to one's opportunities and make the most of one's resources.