In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances.

Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Topics: Francois De La Rochefoucauld Quotes

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.

No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does.

No man is clever enough to know all the evil he does.

Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable,...

Our aversion to lying is commonly a secret ambition to make what we say considerable,...

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to...

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to...

The force we use on ourselves, to prevent ourselves from loving, is often more cruel...

The force we use on ourselves, to prevent ourselves from loving, is often more cruel...

Chance corrects us of many faults that reason would not know how to correct.

Chance corrects us of many faults that reason would not know how to correct.

When a man is in love, he doubts, very often, what he most firmly believes.

When a man is in love, he doubts, very often, what he most firmly believes.

It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone.

It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone.

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

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

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either...

Jealousy is bred in doubts. When those doubts change into certainties, then the passion either...

Jealousy is not so much the love of another as the love of ourselves.

Jealousy is not so much the love of another as the love of ourselves.

Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with...

Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with...

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of...

Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of...

Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient...

Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient...

Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.

Silence is the safest course for any man to adopt who distrust himself.

Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.

Jealousy contains more of self-love than of love.

It is often laziness and timidity that keep us within our duty while virtue gets...

It is often laziness and timidity that keep us within our duty while virtue gets...

The heart is forever making the head its fool.

The heart is forever making the head its fool.

Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.

Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.