The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
The person giving the advice returns the confidence placed in him with a disinterested eagerness... and he is usually guided only by his own interest or reputation.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often give advice to fulfill their own interests rather than the needs of the one seeking guidance.
This quote highlights the often self-serving nature of advice-giving, suggesting that individuals who dispense advice may do so not purely out of altruism, but rather to enhance their own reputation or interests. It exposes the complex dynamics of trust in relationships, indicating that while advice might be given with the appearance of disinterest, underlying motivations can reveal a more self-centered agenda.
Themes
AdviceTrustSelf-InterestReputationRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a discussion about the nature of mentorship and guidance.
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Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
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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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