Absence diminishes commonplace passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Humility is often only a feigned submission of which we make use to render others submissive. It is an artifice of pride which abases in order to exalt itself.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Hypocrisy is the homage that vice pays to virtue.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Interest speaks all sorts of tongues, and plays all sorts of parts, even that of disinterestedness.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Neither the sun nor death can be looked at with a steady eye.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Philosophy triumphs easily over past and over future evils, but present evils triumph over philosophy.
François de la Rochefoucauld
Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.
François de la Rochefoucauld
There are few people who would not be ashamed of being loved when they love no longer.
François de la Rochefoucauld
True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.
François de la Rochefoucauld
We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose.
François de la Rochefoucauld
We have all sufficient strength to endure the misfortunes of others.
François de la Rochefoucauld
We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil fortune.
François de la Rochefoucauld