The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Ridicule dishonors a man more than dishonor does.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ridicule can be more damaging to a person's honor than the act of dishonor itself.
This quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld suggests that being ridiculed can undermine a person's dignity and self-respect more severely than the act of dishonor. It points to the social and psychological implications of ridicule, highlighting how societal judgment and mockery can affect an individual's sense of worth and honor in profound ways.
Themes
RidiculeDishonorHonorDignitySocial JudgmentSelf-Respect
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion about the effects of bullying, one might quote this to emphasize the pain caused by mockery.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
All quotes βOld 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.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
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.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
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