The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Innocence does not find near so much protection as guilt.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Innocence is often more vulnerable than guilt, which tends to be shielded from scrutiny.
This quote suggests that those who are innocent often face more danger and are less likely to receive protection than those who have done wrong. It highlights the paradox of societal judgments where the guilty can find refuge within a system that may favor them, while the innocent are left exposed to the harshness of reality.
Themes
InnocenceGuiltProtectionSocietyJudgment
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about justice and fairness, this quote highlights the discrepancies in how innocent people are treated.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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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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