To Find Something Pleasing in the Misfortune of Friends -

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Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld 1613-1680

A cynical observer in the court of the French king, Louis XIV, and a forefather of the enlightenment.

Part Three

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind blows out candles and fans fire.

We frequently forgive those who bore us, but cannot forgive those whom we bore.

We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire.

Few people know how to be old.

Nothing prevents our being natural so much as the desire to appear so.

Quarrels would not last long if the fault were only on one side.

In the misfortune of our best friends we often find something that is not displeasing.

The Homage That Vice Pays to Virtue

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Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld 1613-1680

A cynical observer in the court of the French king, Louis XIV, and a forefather of the enlightenment.

Part Two

The mind is always the dupe of the heart.

Nothing is given so profusely as advice.

The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more clever than others.

We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.

Usually we praise only to be praised.

Who lives without folly is not so wise as he thinks.

Most people judge men only by their success or their good fortune.

Hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue.

Too great haste in paying off an obligation is a kind of ingratitude.

There is great skill in knowing how to conceal one’s skill.

The pleasure of love is in loving. We are happier in the passion we feel than in that we arouse.

Image via Wikipedia

Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld 1613-1680

A cynical observer in the court of the French king, Louis XIV, and a forefather of the enlightenment.

Part One

Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.

We all have strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.

We need greater virtues to sustain good fortune than bad.

If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others.

Silence is the best tactic for him who distrusts himself.

It is more ignominious to mistrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

Everyone complains of memory, and no one complains of his judgment.