How can we accept another to keep our secret if we have been unable to keep it ourselves. François de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes From François de La Rochefoucauld No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong. François de La Rochefoucauld Nothing is less sincere than our mode of asking and giving advice. He who asks seems to have a deference for the opinion of his friend, while he only aims to get approval of his own and make his friend responsible for his action. And he who gives advice repays the confidence supposed to be placed in him by a seemingly disinterested zeal, while he seldom means anything by his advice but his own interest or reputation. François de La Rochefoucauld Old people like to give good advice, as solace for no longer being able to provide bad examples. François de La Rochefoucauld Only the great can afford to have great defects. François de La Rochefoucauld Our repentance is not so much regret for the ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us in consequence. François de La Rochefoucauld Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it. François de La Rochefoucauld Preserving health by too severe a rule is a worrisome malady. François de La Rochefoucauld Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to pay. François de La Rochefoucauld Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them. François de La Rochefoucauld The accent of one's birthplace remains in the mind and in the heart as in one's speech. François de La Rochefoucauld The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others. François de La Rochefoucauld The defects of the understanding, like those of the face, grow worse as we grow old. François de La Rochefoucauld The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it. François de La Rochefoucauld The happiness or unhappiness of men depends as much on their humors as on fortune. François de La Rochefoucauld The height of cleverness is to be able to conceal it. François de La Rochefoucauld The pleasure of love is in loving. François de La Rochefoucauld The truest mark of being born with great qualities, is being born without envy. François de La Rochefoucauld Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness. François de La Rochefoucauld To be deceived by our enemies or betrayed by our friends in insupportable; yet by ourselves we are often content to be so treated. François de La Rochefoucauld To establish oneself in the world, one has to do all one can to appear established. François de La Rochefoucauld
