Francois De La Rochefoucauld

We are strong enough to bear the misfortunes of others.

Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.

In order to succeed in the world people do their upmost to appear successful.

It 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.

Were we faultless, we would not derive such satisfaction from remarking the faults of others.

It is the habit of mediocre minds to condemn all that is beyond their grasp.

No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will.

Nature seems at each man's birth to have marked out the bounds of his virtues and vices, and to have determined how good or how wicked that man shall be capable of being.

We easily forgive our friends those faults that do no affect us ourselves.

Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.

We all have enough strength to endure the misfortunes of others.

The accent of a man's native country remains in his mind and his heart, as it does in his speech.

Taste may change, but inclination never.

One is never fortunate or as unfortunate as one imagines.

Neither the sun nor death can be looked at steadily.

Nothing prevents one from appearing natural as the desire to appear natural.

Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.

Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too.

Heat of blood makes young people change their inclinations often, and habit makes old ones keep to theirs a great while.

Love often leads on to ambition, but seldom does one return from ambition to love.

Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.