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In the human heart one generation of passions follows another; from the ashes of one springs the spark of the next.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Human emotions and passions are cyclical and constantly evolving, with new feelings emerging from the remnants of previous ones.

Francois De La Rochefoucauld's quote suggests that human feelings are not static; instead, they transition from one generation to the next. Each emotional experience leaves behind remnants that nurture the growth of new passions, indicating the dynamic and interconnected nature of our emotional lives. This cyclical process reflects both the resilience of human emotions and the continuity of our experiences as we navigate through various phases of life.

Themes

EmotionsPassionsHuman ExperienceCyclesGrowth

In practice

Example use cases

During a motivational speech about resilience, one might quote this to illustrate how overcoming past difficulties can lead to new strengths.

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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.
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To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
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