Only the contemptible fear contempt.

Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Topics: Francois De La Rochefoucauld Quotes

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we have been unable to...

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we have been unable to...

It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love...

It is not in the power of even the most crafty dissimulation to conceal love...

What makes lovers never tire of one another is that they talk always about themselves.

What makes lovers never tire of one another is that they talk always about themselves.

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.

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,...

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.

Men often pass from love to ambition, but they seldom come back again from ambition...

Men often pass from love to ambition, but they seldom come back again from ambition...

In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.

In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.

We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free...

We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free...

However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.

However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.

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.

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...

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.

The defects of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse with age.

The defects of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse with age.

To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.

To achieve greatness one should live as if they will never die.

Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing.

Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

We are very far from always knowing our own wishes.

Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues...

Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues...

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...

In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes...

In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes...