The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our best actions may have hidden motives that could evoke shame if exposed.
This quote suggests that while we may strive to act virtuously, the underlying motivations that drive our best actions can sometimes be less noble or more self-serving than we would like to admit. It challenges us to reflect on the true intentions behind our deeds and the potential discrepancy between our public persona and private motives.
Themes
MotivesActionsShamePhilosophyTruth
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about ethics, this quote could highlight the complexity of human behavior.
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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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