None but the contemptible are apprehensive of contempt. Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes From Francois de La Rochefoucauld Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much; yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirized can join in the satire. Francois de La Rochefoucauld quality too-much use Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not last forever. Francois de La Rochefoucauld secret doe forever The prospect of being pleased tomorrow will never console me for the boredom of today. Francois de La Rochefoucauld boredom tomorrow today That which makes the vanity of others unbearable to us is that which wounds our own. Francois de La Rochefoucauld wounds unbearable vanity We endeavor to make a virtue of the faults we are unwilling to correct. Francois de La Rochefoucauld ethics faults virtue Silence is the best tactic for he who distrusts himself. Francois de La Rochefoucauld distrust tactics silence It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal one's ability. Francois de La Rochefoucauld ability degrees knows Our actions are like blank rhymes, to which everyone applies what sense he pleases. Francois de La Rochefoucauld rhyme blank our-actions The ambitious deceive themselves in proposing an end to their ambition; that end, when attained, becomes a means. Francois de La Rochefoucauld ambitious ambition mean Those who have the most cunning affect all their lives to condemn cunning; that they may make use of it on some great occasion, and to some great end. Francois de La Rochefoucauld ends use may For envy, like lightning, generally strikes at the top Or any point which sticks out from the ordinary level. LUCRETIUS, De Rerum Natura Our envy always outlives the felicity of its object. Francois de La Rochefoucauld lightning envy ordinary One of the greatest and also the commonest of faults is for men to believe that, because they never hear their shortcomings spoken of, or read about them in cold print, others can have no knowledge of them. GEORG CHRISTOPH LICHTENBERG, The Reflections of Lichtenberg We are often more agreeable through our faults than our good qualities. Francois de La Rochefoucauld reflection men believe Tis more dishonourable to distrust a friend than to be deceived by him. Francois de La Rochefoucauld distrust friends deceived Though most of the friendships of the world ill deserve the name of friendships; yet a man may make use of them on occasion, as of a traffic whose returns are uncertain, and in which 'tis usual to be cheated. Francois de La Rochefoucauld names friendship men Misers mistake gold for their good; whereas 'tis only a means of attaining it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld gold mistake mean We take less pains to be happy, than to appear so. Francois de La Rochefoucauld pain appearance happiness There are some disguised falsehoods so like truths, that 'twould be to judge ill not to be deceived by them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld deceived judging lying We bear, all of us, the misfortunes of other people with heroic constancy. Francois de La Rochefoucauld heroic bears people It is pointless for a woman to be young unless pretty, or to be pretty unless young. Francois de La Rochefoucauld pointless women young There are few women whose charm survives their beauty. Francois de La Rochefoucauld women-beauty charm women
