"When once a certain class of people has been placed by the temporal and spiritual authorities outside the ranks of those whose life has value, then nothing comes more naturally to men than murder. "
Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
All the passions make us commit faults; love makes us commit the most ridiculous ones. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy they are, who already possess it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Certainly we're not satisfied with just winning games. We've been playing some pretty good hockey, but we think we can play much better. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Few things are impracticable in themselves; and it is for want of application, rather than of means, that men fail to succeed. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
I have always been an admirer. I regard the gift of admiration as indispensable if one is to amount to something; I don't know where I would be without it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
If it were not for the company of fools, a witty man would often be greatly at a loss. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
If we had no faults of our own, we should not take so much pleasure in noticing those in others. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
In all professions each affects a look and an exterior to appear what he wishes the world to believe that he is. Thus we may say that the whole world is made up of appearances. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means. It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Nothing is so contagious as example; and we never do any great good or evil which does not produce its like. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Perfect Valor is to do, without a witness, all that we could do before the whole world. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms inside your head, and people in them, acting. People you know, yet can't quite name. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The reason that lovers never weary each other is because they are always talking about themselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
The reason why so few people are agreeable in conversation is that each is thinking more about what he intends to say than others are saying. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There are various sorts of curiosity; one is from interest, which makes us desire to know that which may be useful to us; and the other, from pride which comes from the wish to know what others are ignorant of. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There are very few people who are not ashamed of having been in love when they no longer love each other. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There is no disguise that can for long conceal love where it exists or simulate it where it does not. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
What men have called friendship is only a social arrangement, a mutual adjustment of interests, an interchange of services given and received; it is, in sum, simply a business from which those involved propose to derive a steady profit for their own self-love. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Why can we remember the tiniest detail that has happened to us, and not remember how many times we have told it to the same person. Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person? Francois de La Rochefoucauld
