The hate of favourites is only a love of favour. The envy of NOT possessing it, consoles and softens its regrets by the contempt it evinces for those who possess it, and we refuse them our homage, not being able to detract from them what attracts that of the rest of the world.
Francois de La RochefoucauldIt is more often from pride than from ignorance that we are so obstinately opposed to current opinions; we find the first places taken, and we do not want to be the last.
Francois de La RochefoucauldIt takes more strength of character to withstand good fortune than bad.
Francois de La RochefoucauldAs uncommon a thing as true love is, it is yet easier to find than true friendship.
Francois de La RochefoucauldIn the human heart there is a ceaseless birth of passions, so that the destruction of one is almost always the establishment of another.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld