Nature makes merit, and fortune puts it to work. Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes From Francois de La Rochefoucauld Gratitude is like the good faith of traders: it maintains commerce, and we often pay, not because it is just to discharge our debts, but that we may more readily find people to trust us. Francois de La Rochefoucauld debt gratitude people It is easier to deceive yourself, and to do so unperceived, than to deceive another. Francois de La Rochefoucauld deceiving perception self Ability wins us the esteem of the true men; luck, that of the people. Francois de La Rochefoucauld winning men people He that would be a great man must learn to turn every accident to some advantage. Francois de La Rochefoucauld advantage would-be men There is no accident so unfortunate but wise men will make some advantage of it, nor any so entirely fortunate but fools may turn it to their own prejudice. Francois de La Rochefoucauld prejudice wise men Some people resemble ballads which are only sung for a certain time. Francois de La Rochefoucauld ballads certain people There are few occasions when we should make a bad bargain by giving up the good on condition that no ill was said of us. Francois de La Rochefoucauld giving-up should said It is worth nothing to be young without being beautiful, nor to be beautiful without being young. Francois de La Rochefoucauld young beautiful beauty It is a species of coquetry to make a parade of never practising it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld coquette coquetry parades People would not long remain in social life if they were not the dupes of each other. Francois de La Rochefoucauld deceit long people Reason alone is insufficient to make us enthusiastic in any matter. Francois de La Rochefoucauld service-culture enthusiasm matter There are no accidents so unlucky from which clever people are not able to reap some advantage, and none so lucky that the foolish are not able to turn them to their own disadvantage. Francois de La Rochefoucauld able clever people It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects. Francois de La Rochefoucauld defects greatness men Hope is the last thing that dies in man. Francois de La Rochefoucauld lasts hope men Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer Him His sacrifices. Francois de La Rochefoucauld sacrifice humility wish Idleness is more an infirmity of the mind than of the body. Francois de La Rochefoucauld infirmity body mind The wind which snuffs the candle fans the fire. Francois de La Rochefoucauld learning fire wind Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see. Francois de La Rochefoucauld causes mind believe The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man with passion is more persuasive than the most eloquent without it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld passion men art We frequently do good in order to enable us to do evil later with impunity exemption of punishment. Francois de La Rochefoucauld punishment evil order
