The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
What we call generosity is for the most part only the vanity of giving; and we exercise it because we are more fond of that vanity than of the thing we give.
Interpretation
Generosity often stems from a desire for self-gratification rather than true altruism.
François De La Rochefoucauld's quote suggests that what we often perceive as generosity is more about our own vanity and desire for social approval than genuine selflessness. He posits that we enjoy the act of giving not solely for the benefit of others, but because it enhances our own image and makes us feel good about ourselves.
In practice
In a speech about charitable donations, one might quote this to highlight the importance of true altruism.
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.
Unsung, the noblest deed will die.
The most alarming sign of the state of our society now is that our leaders have the courage to sacrifice the lives of young people in war but have not the courage to tell us that we must be less greedy and wasteful.
Sincere Christians can disagree about the details of Scripture and theology - absolutely.
For some days I quietly worked out in my own mind the metaphysics of Cosmic Unity. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that it was the living truth. It was logically incontrovertible. It provided for the first time a firm foundation for ethics. It offered mankind the radical change of heart and mind that was our only hope of peace at a time of desperate danger. Only one small problem remained. I must find a way to convert the world to my way of thinking.
To me, Faith is not just a noun but also a verb
A million years of evolution, Eric said bitterly, and what are we? Animals.
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