What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.

Quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld

Topics: Francois De La Rochefoucauld Quotes

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves...

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves...

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

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

Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.

Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.

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...

We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

However greatly we distrust the sincerity of those we converse with, yet still we think...

However greatly we distrust the sincerity of those we converse with, yet still we think...

Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.

Jealousy springs more from love of self than from love of another.

A wise man thinks it more advantageous not to join the battle than to win.

A wise man thinks it more advantageous not to join the battle than to win.

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans...

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans...

The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.

The virtues and vices are all put in motion by interest.

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present...

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present...

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...

The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.

The more one loves a mistress, the more one is ready to hate her.

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.

The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.

The surest way to be deceived is to consider oneself cleverer than others.

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.

We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation.

We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation.

Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but...

Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but...

Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.

Most of our faults are more pardonable than the means we use to conceal them.

People's personalities, like buildings, have various facades, some pleasant to view, some not.

People's personalities, like buildings, have various facades, some pleasant to view, some not.