The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Love of glory, fear of shame, greed for fortune, the desire to make life agreeable and comfortable, and the wish to depreciate others - all of these are often the causes of the bravery that is spoken so highly of by men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Human motivations for bravery often stem from ego and desire rather than noble intentions.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld suggests that many actions deemed brave are not driven by pure courage but rather by personal motivations such as the pursuit of glory, the fear of shame, the desire for wealth, and the propensity to belittle others. This insight challenges the common perception of bravery as an entirely noble quality, highlighting how personal interests can influence one's actions and character.
Themes
BraveryMotivationsEgoDesireFortunes
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about personal growth at a conference.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
All quotes →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.
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.
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