The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Everyone complains of his memory, and nobody complains of his judgment.
Interpretation
People often criticize their ability to remember things while overlooking the importance of making wise decisions.
This quote highlights a common human tendency to focus on our shortcomings in memory instead of acknowledging the greater concern of our judgment. It suggests that while many are preoccupied with recalling events or information, fewer people reflect on the quality of their decisions, which can have a more significant impact on their lives.
In practice
In a speech about self-improvement, one might reference this quote to encourage others to focus on their decision-making skills.
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.
Knowledge of the enemy's dispositions can only be obtained from other men.
The pain of severe depression is quite unimaginable to those who have not suffered it.
When you're operating on uninvestigated theories of what's going on and you aren't even aware of it, you're in what I call "the dream." Often the dream becomes troubling; sometimes it even turns into a nightmare. At times like these, you may want to test the truth of your theories by doing The Work on them. The Work always leaves you with less of your uncomfortable story. Who would you be without it? How much of your world is made up of unexamined stories? You'll never know until you inquire.
With every pill we have prescribed for us we should also be given a creative prayer, a suggested way to correct our destructive patterns of thought.
It's important to have people who are absolutely willing to say you're wrong or who have a totally different perspective than you do on everything. Fresh ideas are hard to come by, and good ones are even harder.
You can't teach the old maestro a new tune.
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