The aversion to lying is often a hidden ambition to render our words credible and weighty, and to attach a religious aspect to our conversation. Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes From Francois de La Rochefoucauld We sometimes condemn the present, by praising the past; and show our contempt of what is now, by our esteem for what is no more. Francois de La Rochefoucauld praisesometimespast Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves succeed. Francois de La Rochefoucauld designhonormen Indolence, languid as it is, often masters both passions and virtues. Francois de La Rochefoucauld indolencevirtuepassion To praise great actions is in some sense to share them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld praiseshareaction Civility is a desire to receive civilities, and to be accounted well-bred. Francois de La Rochefoucauld civilitywellsdesire Sometimes there are accidents in our lives the skillful extrication from which demands a little folly. Francois de La Rochefoucauld demandlittlessometimes Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people. Francois de La Rochefoucauld knaverygivingpeople The old begin to complain of the conduct of the young when they themselves are no longer able to set a bad example. Francois de La Rochefoucauld exampleagecomplaining Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible. Francois de La Rochefoucauld failureupliftingmotivational Things often offer themselves to our mind in a more finished form in the very first thought, than we might have made them by muchart and study. Francois de La Rochefoucauld mindmightideas Every one speaks well of his own heart, but no one dares speak well of his own mind. Francois de La Rochefoucauld speakmindheart We may say of agreeableness, as distinct from beauty, that it is a symmetry whose rules are unknown. Francois de La Rochefoucauld agreeablenesssymmetrymay Nothing is so catching as example. Francois de La Rochefoucauld catchingexample Sometimes, occasions occur in life which demand you to be a little foolish in order to skillfully extricate yourself. Francois de La Rochefoucauld demandlittlesorder Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present are commonly too hard for it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld evilphilosophypast Envy is more irreconcilable than hatred. Francois de La Rochefoucauld enviedenvyhatred Jealousy is the greatest of all evils, and the one that arouses the least pity in the person who causes it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld envyjealousyevil A man often imagines that he acts, when he is acted upon. Francois de La Rochefoucauld imagineactionmen If we took as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to deceive others by disguising what we are; we might appear as we are, without being at the trouble of any disguise. Francois de La Rochefoucauld paintroublemight We are lazier in our minds than in our bodies. Francois de La Rochefoucauld idlenessbodymind
