The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.
Interpretation
Mental flaws can leave lasting impressions, similar to physical scars.
This quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld suggests that the imperfections and shortcomings of our minds are akin to physical wounds. Even with extensive care and effort to address these issues, they often leave scars that serve as reminders of our vulnerabilities, and there is always the risk of these flaws resurfacing if not properly managed.
In practice
In a motivational speech about resilience, one might use this quote to illustrate how our past challenges shape us.
The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.
A state of expectancy is a great assetl; a state of uncertainty-one moment thinking "perhaps" and the next moment thinking "I don't know"-will never get desired results.
Our days are like identical suitcases. Even though they are all the same size, some people are able to pack more into them then others. The reason? They know what to pack.
Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one.
Anyone can battle for pride, power, vanity, greed, or hate, but war should always be approached with an equal measure of wisdom and strength. It's not just enough to know when to fight, but to know when to lay down the sword and negotiate. Not everything in the world is worth fighting for.
I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions.
Words are like Leaves; and where they most abound, Much Fruit of Sense beneath is rarely found.
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