We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves.
Francois de La RochefoucauldHope, deceiving as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.
Francois de La RochefoucauldLove often leads on to ambition, but seldom does one return from ambition to love.
Francois de La RochefoucauldMany men are contemptuous of riches; few can give them away.
Francois de La RochefoucauldThere are few virtuous women who are not bored with their trade.
Francois de La RochefoucauldSelf-interest makes some people blind, and others sharp-sighted.
Francois de La RochefoucauldOld age is a tyrant, who forbids, under pain of death, the pleasures of youth.
Francois de La RochefoucauldWe always love those who admire us, but we do not always love those whom we admire.
Francois de La RochefoucauldIf we did not flatter ourselves, the flattery of others could never harm us.
Francois de La RochefoucauldWhen a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness.
Francois de La RochefoucauldGracefulness is to the body what understanding is to the mind.
Francois de La RochefoucauldJealously is always born with love but it does not die with it.
Francois de La RochefoucauldWe have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own.
Francois de La RochefoucauldPoliteness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself.
Francois de La RochefoucauldThe sure mark of one born with noble qualities is being born without envy.
Francois de La RochefoucauldWe promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld