We make promises to the extent that we hope-and keep them to the extent that we fear. — François de La Rochefoucauld
The appearances of goodness and merit often meet with a greater reward — François de La Rochefoucauld
We think very few people sensible, except those who are of our opinion. — François de La Rochefoucauld
Love is one and the same in the original; but there are a thousand different copies of it. — François de La Rochefoucauld
The surest proof of being endowed with noble qualities is to be free from envy. — François de La Rochefoucauld
A wise man thinks it more advantageous not to join the battle than to win. — François de La Rochefoucauld
Prudence and love are inconsistent; in proportion as the last increases, the — François de La Rochefoucauld
Treachery is more often the effect of weakness than of a formed design. — François de La Rochefoucauld
The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise. — François de La Rochefoucauld
Avarice misapprehends itself almost always. There is no passion which more often — François de La Rochefoucauld
All our qualities, whether good or bad, are unstable and ambiguous, and — François de La Rochefoucauld
To safeguard one’s health at the cost of too strict a diet is a tiresome illness, indeed. — François de La Rochefoucauld
Nothing is so capable of diminishing self-love as the observation that we — François de La Rochefoucauld
We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest. — François de La Rochefoucauld
Gallantry of mind consists in saying flattering things in an agreeable manner. — François de La Rochefoucauld
There are no accidents so unlucky but the prudent may draw some advantage from them. — François de La Rochefoucauld