There is a kind of love, the excess of which forbids jealousy. Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes by Francois de La Rochefoucauld More Quotes From Francois de La Rochefoucauld The sure way to be cheated is to think one's self more cunning than others. Francois de La Rochefoucauld deception self thinking There are good marriages, but there are no delightful ones. Francois de La Rochefoucauld delightful good-marriage matrimony Old fools are greater fools than young ones. Francois de La Rochefoucauld young-ones fool young Gratitude, in most men, is only a strong and secret hope of greater favors. Francois de La Rochefoucauld gratitude strong men The intention of cheating no one lays us open to being cheated ourselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld cheated intention cheating A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right. Francois de La Rochefoucauld attempting understanding men It is as easy to deceive one's self without perceiving it, as it is difficult to deceive others without their finding out. Francois de La Rochefoucauld deceit self lying We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not. Francois de La Rochefoucauld Those who occupy their minds with small matters, generally become incapable of greatness. Francois de La Rochefoucauld greatness matter mind A true friend is the most precious of all possessions and the one we take the least thought about acquiring. Francois de La Rochefoucauld true-friend possession friendship Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and sometimes renders the most foolish man clever. Francois de La Rochefoucauld passion clever men The reason why lovers and their mistresses never tire of being together is that they are always talking of themselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld mistress talking love Minds of moderate caliber ordinarily condemn everthing which is beyond their range. Francois de La Rochefoucauld range mediocrity mind Selfishness is the grand moving principle of nine-tenths of our actions. Francois de La Rochefoucauld selfishness principles moving There are no events so disastrous that adroit men do not draw some advantage from them, nor any so fortunate that the imprudent cannot turn to their own prejudice. Francois de La Rochefoucauld events success men Luxury and excessive refinement are sure forerunners of the decadence of states, because when all individuals seek their own interests they neglect the public weal. Francois de La Rochefoucauld lifestyle luxury individual Sobriety is love of health, or inability to eat much. Francois de La Rochefoucauld inability sobriety temperance There are some good marriages, but practically no delightful ones. Francois de La Rochefoucauld delightful good-marriage marriage Nothing should lessen our satisfaction with ourselves as much as when we notice that we disapprove of something at one time that we approve of at another time. Francois de La Rochefoucauld one-time satisfaction should To awaken a man who is deceived as to his own merit is to do him as bad a turn as that done to the Athenian madman who was happy in believing that all the ships touching at the port belonged to him. Francois de La Rochefoucauld touching men believe