The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits.
Francois de La RochefoucauldWe often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other means.
Francois de La RochefoucauldWe often persuade ourselves to love people who are more powerful than we are, yet interest alone produces our friendship; we do not give our hearts away for the good we wish to do, but for that we expect to receive.
Francois de La RochefoucauldSome weak people are so sensible of their weakness as to be able to make a good use of it.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld