There are few people more convinced of their own genius than those who complain of how stupid they are. Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes From Francois de La Rochefoucauld If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent. Francois de La Rochefoucauld silentspeakpurpose A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there. Francois de La Rochefoucauld doemenorder Whatever pretext we may give for our affections, often it is only interest and vanity which cause them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld vanitymaygiving Nothing ought more to humiliate men who have merited great praise than the care they still take to boast of little things. Francois de La Rochefoucauld carelittlesmen The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so. Francois de La Rochefoucauld becomingcleverdesire One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who does not think more of what he is about to say than of answering precisely what is said to him. Francois de La Rochefoucauld doepeoplethinking Love of fame, fear of disgrace, schemes for advancement, desire to make life comfortable and pleasant, and the urge to humiliate others are often at the root of the valour men hold in such high esteem. Francois de La Rochefoucauld rootscouragemen Perfect courage and utter cowardice are two extremes which rarely occur. Francois de La Rochefoucauld cowardiceperfecttwo Customary use of artifice is the sign of a small mind, and it almost always happens that he who uses it to cover one spot uncovers himself in another. Francois de La Rochefoucauld spotsusemind We acknowledge our faults in order to repair by our sincerity the damage they have done us in the eyes of others. Francois de La Rochefoucauld damageeyeorder It is more often from pride than from defective understanding that people oppose established opinions: they find the best places taken in the good party and are reluctant to accept inferior ones. Francois de La Rochefoucauld partypridetaken Οur own distrust somewhat justifies the deceit of others. Francois de La Rochefoucauld justifydistrustdeceit Envy is destroyed by true friendship, as coquetry by true love. Francois de La Rochefoucauld coquetrytrue-friendenvy The head does not know how to play the part of the heart for long. Francois de La Rochefoucauld playheartlong Fortunate persons hardly ever amend their ways: they always imagine that they are in the right when fortune upholds their bad conduct. Francois de La Rochefoucauld imaginefortuneway Fortune never appears so blind as to those to whom she does no good. Francois de La Rochefoucauld blindfortunedoe The greater part of mankind judge of men only by their fashionableness or their fortune. Francois de La Rochefoucauld fashionjudgingmen Love's greatest miracle is the curing of coquetry. Francois de La Rochefoucauld flirtationcoquetrymiracle Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices; it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something. Francois de La Rochefoucauld officeselffriendship We are better pleased to see those on whom we confer benefits than those from whom we receive them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld benefits
