The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often show gratitude with ulterior motives, hoping to receive more favors in the future.
This quote suggests that many expressions of gratitude are not entirely sincere; instead, they may be driven by a self-serving agenda where individuals seek to benefit from future acts of kindness. It highlights the complex nature of human relationships, where the motivations behind our actions can be masked by the facade of appreciation.
Themes
GratitudeKindnessRelationshipsSelfishnessMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about volunteering, one might use this quote to provoke thought about the true nature of giving and gratitude.
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.
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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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