We promise in proportion to our hopes, and we deliver in proportion to our fears. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
We seldom find people ungrateful so long as it is thought we can serve them. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
We should often blush for our very best actions, if the world did but see all the motives upon which they were done. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
What keeps us from abandoning ourselves entirely to one vice, often, is the fact that we have several. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
What makes the pain we feel from shame and jealousy so cutting is that vanity can give us no assistance in bearing them. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
What we call generosity is for the most part only the vanity of giving; — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
Whatever good things people say of us, they tell us nothing new. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
When a man is in love, he doubts, very often, what he most firmly believes. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
When a man must force himself to be faithful in his love, this is hardly better than unfaithfulness. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
When our vices leave us, we like to imagine it is we who are leaving them. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
When we are in love we often doubt that which we most believe. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
Why can we remember the tiniest detail that has happened to us — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
Women’s virtue is frequently nothing but a regard to their own quiet and a tenderness for their reputation. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI
You can find women who have never had an affair, but it is hard to find a woman who has had just one. — Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Francois VI