The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.
Interpretation
Disclaiming praise often reveals a hidden desire for more recognition.
This quote reflects on the nature of human behavior regarding praise and recognition. When individuals downplay compliments or praise they receive, it often stems from an underlying desire for further validation, indicating that the act of modesty may not be as selfless as it seems. It suggests a complex interplay between ego and humility in social interactions.
In practice
In a motivational speech, to highlight the importance of recognizing one's achievements.
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.
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.
To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
We had to learn...that it did not really matter what we expected from life but rather what life expected from us.
Seek advice, but make sure it's from someone who has successfully handled mistakes or adversities.
Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work, which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.
The greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but found by the heart.
There is no ideal world for you to wait around for. The world is always just what it is now, and it's up to you how you respond to it.
I think that's one of the maybe under-discussed aspects of process - the difference between a good writing day and a bad one is the quality of the split-second decisions you made.
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