The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation. [However disappointment can always be removed if we remember it could have turned out worse.]
Interpretation
What this quote means
Desires often lead to disappointment because they rarely fulfill our expectations completely, yet perspective can alleviate that disappointment.
This quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld reflects on the nature of human desires and expectations. It suggests that while we may find temporary satisfaction in fulfilling our desires, they often fall short of what we truly hope for, leading to disappointment. However, the quote also emphasizes a valuable perspective: by recognizing that outcomes could have been worse, we can mitigate our feelings of disappointment and learn to appreciate what we have instead.
Themes
DesireDisappointmentExpectationPerspectiveSatisfaction
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about managing personal expectations.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
All quotes →Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
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Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
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Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
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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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