We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest. 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 silent speak purpose A man, in order to establish himself in the world, does everything he can to appear established there. Francois de La Rochefoucauld doe men order Whatever pretext we may give for our affections, often it is only interest and vanity which cause them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld vanity may giving 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 care littles men The desire of appearing clever often prevents our becoming so. Francois de La Rochefoucauld becoming clever desire 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 doe people thinking 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 roots courage men Perfect courage and utter cowardice are two extremes which rarely occur. Francois de La Rochefoucauld cowardice perfect two 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 spots use mind 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 damage eye order 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 party pride taken Οur own distrust somewhat justifies the deceit of others. Francois de La Rochefoucauld justify distrust deceit Envy is destroyed by true friendship, as coquetry by true love. Francois de La Rochefoucauld coquetry true-friend envy The head does not know how to play the part of the heart for long. Francois de La Rochefoucauld play heart long 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 imagine fortune way Fortune never appears so blind as to those to whom she does no good. Francois de La Rochefoucauld blind fortune doe The greater part of mankind judge of men only by their fashionableness or their fortune. Francois de La Rochefoucauld fashion judging men Love's greatest miracle is the curing of coquetry. Francois de La Rochefoucauld flirtation coquetry miracle 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 office self friendship We are better pleased to see those on whom we confer benefits than those from whom we receive them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld benefits
