It seems that nature, which has so wisely disposed our bodily organs with a view to our happiness, has also bestowed on us pride, to spare us the pain of being aware of our imperfections.
Francois de La RochefoucauldLove often leads on to ambition, but seldom does one return from ambition to love.
Francois de La RochefoucauldPerfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.
Francois de La RochefoucauldThe duration of our passions is no more dependent on ourselves than the duration of our lives.
Francois de La RochefoucauldPraise is a more ingenious, concealed, and subtle kind of flattery, that satisfies both the giver and the receiver, though by verydifferent ways. The one accepts it as a reward due to his merit; the other gives it that he may be looked upon as a just and discerning person.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld