Only the contemptible fear contempt.

Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Topics: Francois De La Rochefoucauld Quotes

We promise in proportion to our hopes, and we deliver in proportion to our fears.

We promise in proportion to our hopes, and we deliver in proportion to our fears.

What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that...

What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that...

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

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

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.

Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.

It's the height of folly to want to be the only wise one.

It's the height of folly to want to be the only wise one.

The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken.

The man that thinks he loves his mistress for her own sake is mightily mistaken.

If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure...

If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure...

If there be a love pure and free from the admixture of our other passions,...

If there be a love pure and free from the admixture of our other passions,...

The word virtue is as useful to self-interest as the vices.

The word virtue is as useful to self-interest as the vices.

Of all our faults, the one that we excuse most easily is idleness.

Of all our faults, the one that we excuse most easily is idleness.

It's easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.

It's easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.

The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having...

The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having...

We easily forgive our friends those faults that do no affect us ourselves.

We easily forgive our friends those faults that do no affect us ourselves.

We always get bored with those whom we bore.

We always get bored with those whom we bore.

What men have called friendship is only a social arrangement, a mutual adjustment of interests,...

What men have called friendship is only a social arrangement, a mutual adjustment of interests,...

Women's virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness...

Women's virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness...

There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess.

There are crimes which become innocent and even glorious through their splendor, number and excess.

There are but very few men clever enough to know all the mischief they do.

There are but very few men clever enough to know all the mischief they do.

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to...

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to...

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become...

We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become...