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 of the mind, like those of the face, grow worse with age.
Interpretation
What this quote means
As we age, our mental flaws often become more pronounced, just as physical imperfections do.
This quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld highlights the idea that as individuals grow older, their mental weaknesses or defects are likely to become more apparent. Just as age can accentuate physical flaws, it can also magnify the shortcomings in our thinking and reasoning, suggesting that self-awareness and personal growth are crucial at every stage of life to mitigate these issues.
Themes
AgeWisdomMindDefectsPsychology
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of lifelong learning, this quote could emphasize the need for self-reflection.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
All quotes βOld men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
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.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
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