The passions do very often give birth to others of a nature most contrary to their own. Thus avarice sometimes brings forth prodigality, and prodigality avarice; a man's resolution is very often the effect of levity, and his boldness that of cowardice and fear.
Francois de La RochefoucauldThe surest proof of being endowed with noble qualities is to be free from envy.
Francois de La RochefoucauldA man for whom accident discovers sense, is not a rational being. A man only is so who understands, who distinguishes, who tests it.
Francois de La RochefoucauldThat which occasions so many mistakes in the computations of men, when they expect return for favors, is that the giver's pride and the receiver's cannot agree upon the value of the kindness done.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld