The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
The passions are the only orators which always persuade.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Emotions and passions have a powerful ability to persuade others more than logic or reason.
In this quote, Francois De La Rochefoucauld suggests that while logic and reason may convey information, it is our passions—our deep emotions, desires, and feelings—that truly connect with others and persuade them. The essence of persuasive communication lies not in the rational arguments we put forth, but in the genuine emotions we express, making our appeals more relatable and compelling.
Themes
PassionsPersuasionEmotionCommunicationOratory
In practice
Example use cases
In a public speaking event about emotional intelligence, this quote could exemplify the power of emotions in leadership.
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.
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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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