The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Great individuals are defined by their ambitious goals rather than a balance of virtues and passions.
This quote emphasizes that true greatness in individuals comes not from having fewer desires or faults, but from possessing grand visions and aspirations. It suggests that greatness is measured by the scale of one's ambitions and the willingness to pursue significant achievements, rather than solely by moral virtues or self-control.
Themes
GreatnessAmbitionDesignAspirationVirtue
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal development.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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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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